GCC,US security cooperation commitment reaffirmed

Senior security officials and diplomats from the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) member states and the United States of America concluded a meeting of the joint group against terrorism here on Wednesday with a renewed commitment to combat the terrorist and the Iranian activities to destabilize the Gulf Region.

The two-day meeting gains additional significance in the light of the recent terrorist attacks in Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, said the GCC Assistant Secretary-General for Foreign Affairs Dr. Abdulaziz Al-Owaisheq, according to Kuwait News Agency.

"The two sides discussed the possible impacts of the nuclear deal between Iran and the P5+1 group on the region which require intensified cooperation between the strategic partners," the GCC senior official pointed out.

"The conferees underscored, in a joint press release following the meeting, the importance of the agreement reached by the GCC-US Camp David Summit on May 14, 2015, on the need of intensified efforts to protect the security and stability of the Gulf Region, combat terrorism and face up to the hostile attempts by Iran.

"They also renewed commitment to the Joint Statement of the GCC-US Foreign Ministers Meeting in Doha on August 3, 2015, relating to the combat against the ISIL organization and the Iranian interventions in the Gulf Region," Dr. Al-Owaisheq went on.

"The first day of the talks focused on the implementation mechanisms of the UN Security Council Resolution No. 2178, of September 24, 2014, on the combat against terrorism under Chapter VII of the UN Charter.

"The second day reviewed the joint effort to dry up the sources of financing for terrorism, including the Iranian cash supplies, stem the potential threat to infrastructure, and respond to terrorist discourse," he said.

The conferees reaffirmed condemnation of the despicable bomb attacks on mosques in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait in July as well as the attacks on security men in Abha city, Saudi Arabia, on August 6.

They expressed profound concern over the seizure by Kuwaiti security services of large quantities of munitions and the detection of a terrorist design targeting Kuwait, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia.

Dr. Al-Owaisheq added: "They commended the efforts of the security services in the GCC which led to the break-up of terrorist cells and foiled serious plots against the security of the region," KUNA reported.