Gulf union needs thorough study because it's giant, very important step

The Gulf union is an objective for people and leaders of the Arab Gulf countries but this step needs thorough study because it is a "giant and very important move," His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah said Wednesday. "Achieving the Gulf union is an objective for the people and leaders of the GCC," His Highness Sheikh Jaber said in a meeting with journalists attending the 34th GCC summit, which concluded earlier today. But the union "needs patience and study because it is a giant and very important move and we should not act in a hasty manner," added His Highness the Prime Minister during his meeting, attended by Board Chairman and Director General of KUNA Sheikh Mubarak Duaij Al-Sabah and Information Undersecretary Salah Al-Mubaraki. His Highness Sheikh Jaber said the Gulf Cooperation Council's (GCC) summit would serve the interest of the Gulf people. Asked about Iran, His Highness the Prime Minister said the final communique of the GCC summit was clear about the relations with Iran. Iran "is a neighboring country and we wish to have good relations with it. There is no wide differences between Kuwait and Iran. We in Kuwait are part of the GCC and will not have a different position than that of the GCC" regarding the Islamic Republic, he said. "We are keen on unity and that our views do not affect our relations ...," he said. The GCC leaders had welcomed the new Iranian leadership's "new" approach vis-a-vis their states, as well as welcoming the recent nuclear agreement between Tehran and the P5+1 group. The GCC leaders underlined importance of strengthening relations with Iran on the basis of good neighborliness, non-interference in internal affairs, respect of sovereignty of regional countries and refraining from the use or threat of the use of force. The leaders, in their final communique, welcomed the preliminary agreement signed between Iran and the P5+1 group - the five UN Security Council (UNSC) permanent members plus Germany - in Geneva on November 24 last. They said the agreement was a first step towards a comprehensive and permanent agreement over the Iranian nuclear program, which would end regional and international concerns, as well as boost regional security and stability. They also called on Iran to end occupation of the three islands of the United Arab Emirates (UAE): Greater and Lesser Tunbs and Abu Moussa. His Highness the Prime Minister, asked about a GCC role in the nuclear talks between Iran and the P5+1 group, said "it is early to talk about this issue because it is still an idea which should be approved by all parties so the GCC countries can have a role." His Highness Sheikh Jaber, meanwhile, said the State of Kuwait would welcome any role to narrow the gap between Iran and Saudi Arabia "providing approval of the parties concerned." On Kuwait's hosting of the second donor conference for Syria, His Highness the Prime Minister said the meeting would be held at the behest of UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon "because he believes Kuwait is the best place to hold this conference. "Due to the growing number of Syrian refugees, Secretary General Ban asked Kuwait to organize the second donor conference next January," he said. On Kuwait's relations with Iraq, His Highness the Prime Minister said almost all outstanding files were solved. He said he "felt from the Iraqi officials an enthusiasm to prevent anything that can undermine our bilateral relations ... The outstanding files are being solved and we are confident they will solved but it needs time." In their final communique, the GCC leaders welcomed Wednesday Iraq's compliance with UN resolutions related to border signs' maintenance, as well as referral of Kuwaiti prisoners, missing persons and properoties to the UN mission in Iraq. The leaders also condemned the firing of rockets from the Iraqi territories against Saudi border areas, considering it "unacceptable violation" of the international law and good neighborliness principles. In a final communique of the 34th GCC summit, the leaders welcomed Iraq's compliance with relevant UN resolutions namely resolution 833 of 1993 related to finalizing maintenance of border signs between Kuwait and Iraq. They also welcomed Iraq's signing of a memorandum of understanding over the organization of maintenance operation, as well as Iraq's agreement with the UN regarding Baghdad's receiving of compensations for Iraqi farmers, in compliance with UN resolution 899 of 1994. The Arab Gulf leaders also welcomed UN Security Council (UNSC) resolution 2197 of 2013 which referred the file of Kuwaiti prisoners and missing, and Kuwaiti properties to the UN Assistance Mission in Iraq (UNAMI). This agreement, they said, was a positive development of relations between Iraq and the State of Kuwait. Meanwhile, Kuwait will be also hosting the next Arab summit next March and His Highness the Prime Minister was asked how he can predict success of the summit amidst differences among Arab countries. He said the "diplomacy of Kuwait will work on the success of the summit, based on its ... balanced relations with all countries, thanks to wisdom of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah. Turning to domestic issues, His Highness Sheikh Jaber he was optimistic of the future relation between the parliament and government. His Highness the Prime Minister underlined his respect to the criminal court's ruling that was issued last Monday in which 70 nationals, including nine former MPs, were acquitted of illegal entry into the National Assembly.