Damascus, December 31, 2024 – Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi, Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), affirmed in a statement that the visit to the Syrian Arab Republic confirms the GCC's support for its unity and stability, benefiting its brotherly people with security, prosperity, and development. This statement came during Albudaiwi's meeting with Ahmed Al Sharaa, the Commander-in-Chief of the Syrian Administration, on Monday in Damascus.
Albudaiwi explained that the visit, undertaken with the Kuwaiti Minister of Foreign Affairs, Abdullah Al Yahya, was in response to the agreements reached at the 46th extraordinary meeting of the Ministerial Council. The GCC Ministers of Foreign Affairs recommended contacting Syrian counterparts to convey a unified GCC message of support for Syria and the Syrian people and to help them achieve their aspirations for security, stability, development, and prosperity.
Albudaiwi emphasized the GCC's commitment to supporting Syria across all levels – political, economic, development, and humanitarian. He reiterated the GCC's consistent emphasis on respecting Syria's sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity, rejecting foreign interference, combating terrorism and extremism, and respecting the country's religious and cultural diversity.
Albudaiwi also expressed his hope for the continuation of a comprehensive transitional process to fulfill the Syrian people's aspirations for stability and development. He highlighted the importance of supporting national reconciliation, rebuilding the Syrian state, ensuring civilian safety, the decision to dissolve militias and armed factions, and confining weapons to the state's control. He considered these essential pillars for maintaining security and stability in Syria and restoring its regional and international role. He also encouraged national unity and comprehensive dialogue among Syrian parties to achieve security and development and to ensure that no foreign powers interfered in Syria.
Albudaiwi mentioned that the GCC welcomes the UN's call to establish a special mission to support the political transition process in accordance with the principles of the UN Charter to help the Syrian people achieve a Syrian-led political process. This process includes focusing on caring for refugees and displaced persons and working towards their safe and voluntary return home.
Albudaiwi also condemned the repeated Israeli attacks on Syrian territory, calling on Israeli occupation forces to withdraw from occupied Syrian lands. He stressed that the Golan Heights are Syrian land and rejected any Israeli settlement expansion in the occupied Syrian Golan.
Moreover, Albudaiwi reiterated the need to lift economic sanctions on Syria and provide humanitarian and economic support to the Syrian people to alleviate suffering and strengthen efforts to rebuild the country.
In conclusion, Albudaiwi stressed that Syria's security is an integral part of regional stability and a fundamental cornerstone. He highlighted the importance of continued international and regional cooperation and joint efforts to achieve the Syrian people's aspirations for peace and development.