Final Communiqué of the 36th Session of the Gulf Cooperation Council Supreme Council under chairmanship of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud

At the invitation of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud, the GCC Supreme Council held in Riyadh its 36th Session December 9-10, 2015, under chairmanship of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud, who is also chairman of the current session, with presence of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President of the United Arab Emirates, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai; King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa of Kingdom of Bahrain; Sayyid Fahd bin Mahmoud Al Said, Deputy Prime Minister for the Cabinet's Affairs of the Sultanate of Oman; Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Emir of the State of Qatar; and Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, Emir of the State of Kuwait.

GCC Secretary General Dr. Abdullatif bin Rashid Al-Zayani participated in the meeting.

1) The GCC Supreme Council congratulated the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud on assuming the presidency of the current session of the Supreme Council, lauding his speech in the opening session and his keenness on activating the process of cooperation between the GCC countries in all fields.

2) The Supreme Council expressed deep appreciation and gratitude for the great efforts made by Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani, Emir of Qatar, and his government during his 35th chairmanship of the Supreme Council.

3)  The Supreme Council welcomed the vision of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, King of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Chairman of the current session of the Supreme Council, on strengthening of the GCC joint action, thanking the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques for the contents enhancing the march of the Gulf Cooperation Council and its international and regional position. The Council adopted this vision and authorized the Ministerial Council, the relevant ministerial committees and the Secretariat General to implement it. The implementation will be completed during 2016.

4) The Supreme Council looked into the proposal of the late Custodian of the Two Holy Mosque King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud to shift from the stage of cooperation to the union. The ministerial council directed for the continuation of consultations and studies with the participation of President of the concerned body according to the supreme council's decision at its 33rd session that was held in Bahrain in December 2012.

5) The Supreme Council stressed the GCC states' supportive stance with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to host EXPO 2020, wishing the country all the best.

6) The Supreme Council expressed its support to Qatar in hosting the world cup in 2022, wishing it all the best.

7) The Supreme Council reviewed recommendations and reports of the follow-up committees submitted by the ministerial council and expressed its appreciation to the efforts to foster the joint GCC action especially those pertinent to the GCC citizenship for the sake of achieving more integration. It also discussed the latest regional and international developments in light of the current conditions in the world.

March of the Joint Action:

8) The Supreme Council has assigned the GCC Secretariat to carry out awareness campaigns in the GCC states through the various media outlets.

Economic and Development Affairs:

9) The Supreme Council discussed the march of the joint developmental and economic march for the sake of achieving the full economic integration, assigning the GCC Secretariat to form a committee of experts and intellectuals from the GCC citizens to come up with proposals to reach the sought objective while taking into account the needs of the sustainable developments.

10) The Supreme Council has also assigned the Secretariat to continue arranging periodical consultative meetings between the trade cooperation committee and heads of the GCC chambers.

11) The Supreme Council reviewed the recommendations and reports of the Ministerial Council, the competent ministerial committees and the Secretariat General and approved the following:

• Unified system (law) for consumer protection in the Gulf Cooperation Council as mandatory law.
• Unified rules for acquisitions in the GCC financial markets
• Executive Regulations for the equality of the citizens of the GCC countries to benefit from health services in government clinics and hospitals affiliated to the ministries of health in each country.
• Strategic inventory procedures manual of drugs, vaccines and medical supplies in cases of emergency

The Supreme Council also reviewed the submitted reports on the functioning of the GCC Customs Union, the GCC Joint Market, the Monetary Union, the GCC plan (updated) for prevention of non-communicable diseases (non-infectious), water strategy, education and youth. The council reviewed the report on the project of GCC Railway, stressing importance of adhering to complete the required work for implementation of this strategic project in accordance with the Council's previous decisions.

Joint Military Action:

12) The Supreme Council have endorsed decision of the joint supreme defense council at its 14th session concerning the joint military action, topped by the ongoing steps to activate the unified military command and designated the its needed budget and human resources as well as to benefit from the retired military personnel from the GCC states.

13) The Supreme Council added that the GCC leaders also welcomed the accomplishments made so far on the establishment of the unified military command and called for speeding up the needed measures for its activation.

Security Coordination and Cooperation:

14) The Supreme Council endorsed decisions of the GCC interior ministers at their 34th session in Qatar last November and expressed satisfaction for what has so far been achieved in the security domain.

15) The Supreme Council praised the signing of an agreement on the establishment of the GCC police headquarters in Abu Dhabi in the UAE.

Combating Terrorism:

16) The Supreme Council asserted its firm stances toward eradicating and fighting terrorism in all its forms and manifestations as well as the need to dry out its resources and financing. The council reaffirmed its commitment to combat the deviant ideologies of the terrorist groups which aim to defame the tolerant image of Islam, saying that coexistence and harmony among nations and peoples are among the principles of the GCC states' internal and foreign policies.

17) The Supreme Council stressed the need to deal seriously with the grave terrorism phenomenon and the terrorist groups and those behind them, lauding efforts of the member states in this regard at all international and regional levels, calling upon the world community to shoulder its responsibilities in supporting the international center to combat terrorism in New York and coordinate efforts and exchange views in this respect.

18) The Supreme Council directed the concerned bodies within the framework of the GCC to carry out an organized work by all diplomatic, awareness and media means to highlight the bright and moderate image of Islam and the moderate approach of the GCC states, as well as to exploit the social media outlets for the service of this matter and for the convening of conferences, meetings and seminars.

19) The Supreme Council strongly denounced the terrorist attacks that targeted a number of mosques in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Kuwait which left many innocent people killed and wounded, in addition to the attacks that took place in Bahrain which left scores of innocent people killed and injured, lauding efforts exerted by the security authorities to foil the attempt to smuggle a large quantities of explosives coming from Iran into Bahrain. The council expressed the supportive stance of the GCC towards the security and safety of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Bahrain in order to protect their nationals and expatriates, expressing confidence in the ability of the concerned security bodies in dealing with such activities.

20) The Supreme Council also reiterated continuation of the GCC states to take part in the international coalition to fight ISIS as well as supporting all efforts exerted regionally and internationally to fight such terrorist groups and eradicate their evil ideologies, stressing importance of coordinating all efforts for the sake of confronting the challenges facing the region and the world.

21) The Supreme Council strongly denounced the savage attacks on the French capital Paris last November 13 which left scores of innocent people killed and wounded, expressing the supportive stance of the GCC with France in all steps and measures it has taken to safeguard its people. The council condemned the terrorist attacks that took place by ISIS in the United States, Tunisia, Egypt, Mali, Beirut, Baghdad and others, stressing the GCC's commitment to fight all sorts of terrorism in all its manifestations. In this regard, the council welcomed the Security Council's resolution no. 2249 dated on 20, November, 2015 regarding combating terrorism and ISIS and the terrorist groups. The council called to clarify the right image of Islam which is a religion of moderation.

22) The Supreme Council welcomed 9th Meeting of Speakers of Shura, Representatives, National and Nation Councils in Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Member States held in Riyadh on November, lauding efforts exerted by these councils in enhancing the GCC joint parliamentary action.

Strategic Dialogues and Negotiations:

23) The Supreme Council expressed satisfaction with the progress made in the implementation of outcomes of the Camp David Summit held in May 2015 and directed urgently to implement what have been agreed upon in the working groups and joint committees formed in various fields with the United States of America. The council also expressed satisfaction with the progress achieved in strengthening the existing strategic partnership with the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan and the Kingdom of Morocco and the outcomes of the meetings of the GCC foreign ministers with their counterparts in other nations and groups and what have been achieved to strengthen the role and position of the Gulf Cooperation Council at the international and regional areas.

Advisory Board of the Supreme Council:

24) The Supreme Council briefed on the views of the consultative body on matters that have already mandated study:

• Development of partnership between the public and private sectors in the GCC countries.
• Level of income of the GCC citizens and their welfare.
• Future of oil and gas as a source of wealth and power in the GCC countries and the importance of maintaining security development as a strategic option.

The council decided to forward it to the competent ministerial committees to take advantage of them and mandated advisory body to study the following issues:

• Preparing a comprehensive strategy for environmental cooperation between the GCC countries.
• Strengthening the role of the GCC private sector to invest in agricultural and livestock projects.
• Productivity of the GCC citizen, its determinants and ways to increase it.

Political Affairs:

25) The Supreme Council expressed its firm stances towards the issues of the region topped by the Palestinian cause, asserting the just and everlasting peace cannot be achieved unless Israel withdraws from all occupied Arab lands in 1967 and the establishment of an independent State with East Jerusalem as its capital according to the Arab peace initiative and the concerned resolutions of the international legitimacy.

26) The Supreme Council denounced the continuation of Israel's occupation of the Arab territories and the Israeli measures to change the demographic identity of Al-Quds as well as the continuation of the settlement policy and arbitrary apprehension and collective punishment of Palestinian people in the occupied territories. The council also denounced the Israeli savage attacks against the Holy Al-Aqsa Mosque since October 2015 for the sake of dividing the holy shrine and judaizing Al-Quds and isolating it from its Arab and Palestinian surrounding.

27) The Supreme Council urged the world community to take up its responsibilities to protect the Palestinian people and safeguard the Islamic sanctities and shrines, as well as pressuring Israel to stop such savage attacks that violate the international legitimacy.

28) The Supreme Council welcomed the hoisting of the Palestinian flag on the UN headquarters according to the UNGA's resolution issued on September 11, 2015 and welcomed results of the emergency meeting of the Arab peace committee that was held in Cairo last August.

29) The Supreme Council urged donor countries to fulfill their pledges announced in Cairo conference on reconstruction of Gaza.

Iranian Occupation of the three islands of the United Arab Emirates:​

30) The Supreme Council reiterated its firm stances denouncing Iran's occupation of the three UAE islands while supporting the right of the UAE on its islands, regional waters, airspace, continental shelf and the economic zone of the three islands. The final communiqué of the 36th GCC summit said that any decisions or activities carried out by Iran on the three UAE islands are void and null and does not change any of the historical or legal facts that affirm the right of the UAE on the three islands. It called on Iran to respond to the calls made by the UAE to resolve this issue through direct negotiations or resort to the international court of justice.

Relations with Iran:

31) The Supreme Council rejected Iran's interference into the internal affairs of the GCC states and the region, urging it for good neighborliness and respect sovereignty of states and not to use force or threats against countries of the region.

Iranian Nuclear File:

32) The Supreme Council also called on the need to adhere to the agreement signed between Iran with the (5+1) group last July 2015 concerning the Iranian nuclear file, stressing the significant role of the IAEA in this respect. It asserted the need for the implementation of the UNSC resolution 2231 of 2015 concerning the nuclear agreement concerning Iran's launch of a medium-range ballistic missile last October 10 saying that such constituted a savage infringement of the UNSC resolution 1929.

33)The Supreme Council stressed the importance of keeping the Arabian Gulf region a zone free of mass destruction weapons including nuclear weapons, stressing the right of states for peaceful uses of nuclear energy.

Arab Current Situation:

Syria:

34) The Supreme Council reaffirmed its firm positions in preserving the unity of Syria and its stability and territorial integrity.

35) The Supreme Council expressed its deep concern at worsening of the Syrian crisis and deterioration of the humanitarian situation in the light of the Al-Assad regime and militias supporting him in the operations of bombing and killing in addition to their serious repercussions against civilians which are flagrant violations of the principles of human rights and international humanitarian law operations and militias and resulting in increasing the numbers of displaced people and refugees inside Syria and in the neighboring countries.

36) The Supreme Council welcomed the outcomes of Vienna meetings held on 14, November, 2015 regarding finding a peaceful solution to the Syrian crisis based on the Geneva 1 and the aspirations of the Syrian people.

37) The Supreme Council lauded the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's host of the Conference of the Syrian opposition during the period 8-10, December, 2015 in Riyadh as a support of a political solution to guarantee the unity of the Syrian territory in accordance with the decisions of the Geneva 1.

38) The Supreme Council welcomed the outcome of the 3rd conference in supporting the humanitarian situation in Syria held in Kuwait in March 2015, calling upon the donor countries to speed completion of the fulfillment of their commitments. The council looks forward to actively participate in the Fourth Conference in supporting the humanitarian situation in Syria to be held in Britain on February, 2016.

39) The Supreme Council reaffirmed its commitment to continuing efforts to alleviate the suffering of the Syrian people.

40) The Supreme Council called upon the international community to shoulder its responsibility to support the Syrian refugees, lauding the efforts and assistance provided by the GCC countries to alleviate the human suffering of the displaced people and refugees from the Syrian people because of crimes carried out by Basher Al-Assad's regime. The council stressed that the Syrian brothers are treated as residents in the GCC countries.

41) The Supreme Council expressed its deep concern at the increasing hostile rhetoric, racist and inhumane against refugees generally and Muslims particularly, reiterating its call for the countries, humanitarian agencies, civil society organizations and the media to prevent any racist speech and to contribute to raising awareness and responsibility in order to provide the necessary protection for the displaced and refugees who are fleeing from the flames of the terrorist groups and unfair authorities.

42) The Supreme Council welcomed the Security Council resolution no. 2235 dated on August 2015 regarding establishment of a joint mechanism between the United Nations and the Organization for Prohibition of Chemical Weapons to identify those responsible for the use of chemicals including chlorine gas during the conflict in Syria, considering that a message from the international community to address the use of these banned weapons internationally. The council called for a serious cooperation of the international community in this regard to hold accountability for those responsible for these crimes.

Yemeni Affairs:

43) The Supreme Council praised the victories achieved by the Popular Resistance and the army is loyal to the legitimacy against the Houthi militias and Ali Abdullah Saleh and the liberalization of Aden and a number of cities and provinces of Yemen, stressing continuation of a support and assistance to President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi and his legitimate government in order to restore security and stability in all parts of Yemen.

44) The Supreme Council reaffirmed its full commitment to the unity of Yemen and respect for its sovereignty and independence, rejecting any interference in its internal affairs. The council emphasized the importance of a political solution in accordance with the GCC initiative and its executive mechanism, outputs of the comprehensive national dialogue conference and Conference Riyadh, and unconditional implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 2216 (201 ).

45) The Supreme Council praised the efforts of the United Nations through an envoy of the Secretary General of the United Nations in the Republic of Yemen Mr. Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed for implementation of resolution no. 2216, welcoming announcement of resumption of consultations in Switzerland on 15, December, 2015 and the approval of the Yemeni government to participate.

46) The Supreme Council praised the humanitarian efforts made by the GCC countries, lauding the great humanitarian role played by King Salman Relief and Humanitarian Aid Center in this regard. The council called upon the international community to intensify humanitarian assistance to alleviate the suffering for the Yemeni people.

47) The Supreme Council expressed its strong condemnation of violations of Houthi and Saleh's militias against civilians, including acts of murder, kidnapping, detention, recruitment of children and using civilians as human shields in addition to targeting of civilian neighborhoods and torture of prisoners. The council considered these acts are clear violations of international humanitarian law and human rights conventions.

Iraqi Affairs:

48) The Supreme Council expressed hope that the Iraqi government's decision and the House of Representatives to take practical steps to address corruption and poor service-conditions to correct the political process in order to achieve the active participation of all the Iraqi people and implementation of all reforms agreed in 2014 for achieving demands advocated by the Iraqi people.

49) The Supreme Council reiterated its support for UN Security Council Resolution 2107/2013, which decided unanimously to refer prisoners and missing persons and the return of Kuwaiti national archives to the United Nations Mission (UNAMI) to follow up this file, calling for the continuation of the Iraqi government's efforts and cooperation with the State of Kuwait and the international community in this regard .

Libya:

50) The Supreme Council stressed the political solution to the situation in Libya under the auspices of the United Nations, urging all parties to prevail supreme interest to restore security and stability in Libya.

51) The Supreme Council reaffirmed its full support for the legitimate government, expressing thanks for the efforts of Special Envoy of the Secretary General of the United Nations (Mr. Bernardino Leon for his great role, wishing all success for the new envoy of the UN Secretary General (Mr. Martin Kobler) in finding a political solution agreed upon by the Libyan parties.

52) The Supreme Council expressed concern about escalation of the armed attacks and acts of violence in Libya by armed extremist groups, stressing commitment to the sovereignty, independence and integrity of the Libyan territory and its national unity.

53) The Supreme Council decided to renew appointment of Dr. Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani, Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Member States for another three years starting from 1st April, 2017 due to the great efforts exerted by the Secretary General and his effective contribution to strengthening the GCC march, wishing him all success during the coming period.

54) The Supreme Council expressed deep appreciation and gratitude to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, King of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, who is also current chairman of the Supreme Council, and his government and the Saudi people for the warm welcome and generous hospitality.

55) The GCC leaders welcomed the invitation of King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, King of the Kingdom of Bahrain, to hold the 37th session of the GCC Supreme Council in Bahrain in 2016.

Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Thursday, 28, Safar, 1437H (10 December 2015)