The leaders of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)'s Arab states concluded at Al-Diriyyah Palace here today their 7th consultative meeting.
The leaders had lunch with Crown Prince Abdullah bin Abdulaziz, the Deputy Premier and Commander of the National Guard.
The Crown Prince bade farewell at the palace to Bahrain's King Hamad Bin Issa Al Khalifah, Qatari Emir Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifah Al Thani; President of the United Arab Emirates Sheikh Khalifah Bin Zayed Al Nahayan, Omani Deputy Premier for cabinet affairs Fahd bin Mahmoud Al Saeed and Kuwait's Premier Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmed Al-Jaber Al-Sabah and wished them and their delegations a happy journey.
They were also seen off by Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz, the Second Deputy Premier, Minister of Defense and Aviation and Inspector General and GCC's Secretary General Abdulrahman bin Hamad Al-Atiyyah.
Following the meeting, the GCC's Secretary General issued a press statement in which the leaders expressed their best wishes of good health for the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Fahd bin Abdulaziz.
They also congratulated Kuwait's Emir Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmed Al-Sabah on his recovery from the surgery which he has recently undergone and wished him continued good health.
On the latest developments in the Palestinian territories and the peace process in the Middle East, the GCC leaders affirmed their support for the efforts of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to resume negotiations, leading to the setting up of an independent Palestinian state and the achievement of security and stability for the Palestinian people. They emphasized the necessity of regaining all occupied Arab territories to achieve a just and comprehensive peace in the Middle East.
As regards the situation in Iraq, the leaders expressed their support for Iraq and the political process aimed at preserving its sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity and [avoiding] any intervention in its internal affairs. They called on other parties to pursue the same track.
On the latest developments in Lebanon, the leaders stressed the necessity of uniting the Lebanese ranks and their keenness on Lebanon's security, stability and prosperity.
Regarding relations with Iran, the leaders affirmed their fundamental positions on the right of the United Arab Emirates to the occupied three islands, calling on Iran to solve the dispute either through direct negotiations or referring it to the International Court of Justice.
With regard to terrorism, the GCC Supreme Council emphasized the importance of combating this destructive phenomenon by all means, calling on the international community to cooperate effectively to eradicate this destructive blight.
On the process of development and modernization, the leaders stressed their commitment to Manama Declaration issued by Zayed Summit in Bahrain affirming that reform should emanate from Arab and Islamic civilization heritage and the national identity and history of GCC's countries and their peoples.
As for other topics, the leaders expressed their satisfaction over their achievements in all cooperation fields and stressed their proceeding on the track of cooperation and integration for the interest and prosperity of their peoples. They also affirmed that the Council is a strategic option of the Gulf peoples.
The leaders expressed their appreciation of and thanks to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Fahd bin Abdulaziz, Crown Prince Abdullah bin Abdulaziz, the Deputy Premier and Commander of the National Guard, the Saudi government and people for the warm welcome and generous hospitality.
