The leaders of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) held their 15th Consultative Meeting today in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The meeting was chaired by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud. French President Francois Hollande attended as a guest.

The GCC leaders welcomed the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, remembering with pride the efforts and initiatives launched by the late Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, appealing to God Almighty to bestow His mercy on his soul.

The GCC leaders congratulated Sultan Qaboos bin Saeed of Oman on his safe return to Oman.

The GCC leaders also welcomed the participation of President Francois Hollande of the French Republic in this consultative meeting, lauding the existing coordination and cooperation among the GCC countries and France and their shared-visions regarding important issues in the region and world.

The GCC leaders also look forward to meeting with US President Barack Obama on April 13-14, 2015, in the United States, with the hope that the talks contribute to strengthening close relations with the United States in light of current developments and events and to enhancing the security and stability of the region.

The GCC leaders reviewed the latest developments in Yemen, lauding the objectives and outcomes of Operation Decisive Storm and the start of Operation Renewal of Hope, which were launched in response to the request of Yemeni President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi in order to strengthen the legitimacy of the government and resume the political process in accordance with the GCC initiative and its executive mechanism, the National Comprehensive Dialogue and the Security Council's relevant resolutions.

The GCC leaders praised Security Council resolution No. 2216, which was issued under Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations and called for its complete and accurate implementation in order to contribute to the return of security and stability in Yemen and the region. They also welcomed the decision of the United Nations Secretary General to appoint Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed as the new United Nations envoy to the Republic of Yemen.

The GCC leaders welcomed the decision of President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi to hold a conference under the umbrella of the General Secretariat of the Gulf Cooperation Council in Riyadh on May 17, 2015, with the participation of all Yemeni parties and components supporting Yemen’s legitimacy, security and stability. They also welcomed the appointment of Eng. Khalid Bahah as Yemeni Vice President and Major General Mohammad Ali Al-Maqdeshi as Chief of Staff.

The GCC leaders stressed their support of the urgent measures taken by the Yemeni government to address the difficult and dangerous humanitarian situation caused by the irresponsible practices of the Houthi militias and militias of former President Ali Abdullah Saleh. In this context, they lauded the generous support worth $274 million by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for Yemen as well as the urgent humanitarian aid provided by the GCC countries. They called upon the international community to accelerate the provision of more humanitarian aid to Yemen.

The GCC leaders welcomed the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's decision, in coordination with the coalition countries and within the framework of continuing to enhance its humanitarian efforts inside the Yemeni territory, of establishing safe havens at specific times for distributing humanitarian aid. This decision is in line with Security Council resolution No. 2216, and emphasizes the need to prevent Houthi militias and their allies -from exploiting this arrangement to achieve gains on the ground, which would lead to resumption of air operations over these areas.

In order to -hasten aid delivery to the Yemeni people, the GCC leaders welcomed the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's decision of establishing a unified center in Riyadh to coordinate all assistance efforts -between the United Nations and relevant humanitarian organizations, as well as the states wishing to provide assistance to the Yemeni people, including enabling the United Nations to deliver aid ordered by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud in the amount of $274 million.

The GCC leaders reiterated their determination to continue their efforts to support continued development in the Republic of Yemen, as well as continuing to take-steps and measures towards strengthening integration and partnership between the GCC and Yemen, stressing the GCC's support for all efforts to complete the political process in accordance with the GCC initiative and its executive mechanism, and for the outputs of the National Comprehensive Dialogue and the Security Council's relevant resolutions to enhance security and stability in Yemen.

Regarding the Palestinian cause, the GCC leaders confirmed that a comprehensive, just and lasting peace cannot be achieved without the full withdrawal of Israel from all Arab territories occupied since 1967 and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state with (Jerusalem) as its capital, in accordance with international resolutions and the Arab peace initiative. They condemned the repeated brutal attacks carried out by the Israeli occupation authorities and Israeli extremists against unarmed Palestinian citizens, religious shrines and places of worship, particularly the Aqsa Mosque.

As far as the Syrian crisis is concerned, the GCC leaders expressed deep concern over the continuing deterioration of the humanitarian situation in Syria as a result of a continuation of the Al-Assad regime’s killing, destruction and use of heavy weapons, poison gas, and fighter planes, which resulted in the killing of hundreds of thousands of Syrians and injuries to and the displacement of millions of Syrian people. They emphasized that a political solution to the Syrian crisis in accordance with Geneva 1 Statement on June 12, 2012, is in order to ensure the security and stability in Syria and the unity of its territory as well as meet aspirations of the Syrian people. They stressed the need for concerted international efforts to deliver humanitarian assistance to all affected civilians and support all efforts to assist and protect Syrians who are internally displaced or refugees.

The GCC leaders expressed their support of the Iraqi government's efforts for national reconciliation to combat the terrorist organization ISIS and to achieve full participation of all components of the Iraqi people through the full implementation of the reform program that was agreed upon during last summer.

The GCC leaders expressed concern about increasing acts of violence and terrorism that threaten the security, stability and unity of Libya. They reiterated their support for the elected parliament and legitimate government, expressing their support for the United Nations efforts for the resumption of national comprehensive dialogue among the components of the Libyan society and calling upon all spectra of the Libyan people to assume national responsibilities and continue dialogue to find a solution to end the state of division.

The GCC leaders stressed the need to deal with the dangerous terrorist phenomenon and extremist terrorist movements with determination, lauding the efforts of all member states in this regard at all levels. They also praised the work of the GCC security agencies in eradicating this dangerous phenomenon, stressing the need and importance of cooperation among all countries of the world in the fight against the phenomenon of terrorism, and stressed the GCC's commitment to the international coalition combating ISIS.

The GCC leaders confirmed - its desire to build balanced relations with the Islamic Republic of Iran, contributing to strengthened regional security and stability, expressing their aspirations to see normal relations with Iran re-established based on mutual respect of the principles of good neighborliness and respect for the sovereignty of the states and the need to take serious steps to rebuild trust and adherence to the principles of international law and the United Nations, which are based on good neighborliness, to prevent interference in the internal affairs of countries in the region, and to refrain from the threat or use of force.

The GCC leaders expressed hope that the initial framework agreement that has been reached between Iran and the Group (P5+1) will pave the way for a comprehensive final agreement, ensuring aa peaceful Iranian nuclear program, as well as urging that the agreement ensure that this program is in harmony with all international standards, including standards relating to the security and safety of nuclear facilities and full supervision by the International Atomic Energy Agency, in addition to addressing all concerns and environmental implications of Iran's nuclear program.

The GCC leaders look forward to an agreement that could contribute to resolving outstanding issues with Iran, stressing their fixed stances regarding the United Arab Emirates’ right and absolute sovereignty over the three islands, Greater Tunb, Lesser Tunb and Abu Musa in addition to territorial waters, air territory, continental shelf and exclusive economic zone of the islands as an integral part of the United Arab Emirates. They expressed rejection of the continued occupation of the islands by the Islamic Republic of Iran, and all decisions, practices and actions by Iran over the three islands, considering all such actions null and void, as they do not change any of the historical and legal facts that combine the United Arab Emirates' rights of sovereignty over the three islands.

The GCC leaders called upon the Islamic Republic of Iran to respond to the efforts of the United Arab Emirates to resolve the issue through direct negotiations or refer it to the International Court of Justice.

At the end of the meeting, the GCC leaders expressed thanks to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud; Crown Prince Mohammad bin Naif bin Abdulaziz, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior; Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Second Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense; and the government and people of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for the warm welcome, generous hospitality and excellent organization.