Mideast situation – GCC communiqué – Letter from UAE

Letter dated 29 December 1993 from the Chargé d'affaires a.i. of the

Permanent Mission of the United Arab Emirates to the United Nations

addressed to the Secretary-General

On instructions from my Government, I have the honour to transmit to you herewith the Final Communiqué of the fourteenth session of the Supreme Council of the Gulf Cooperation Council held at Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, from 20 to 22 December 1993 (see annex).

I should be grateful if you would have the present letter and its annex circulated as an official document of the forty-ninth session of the General Assembly, under the agenda items entitled "The situation in the Middle East", "Question of Palestine", "The situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina",

 "Consequences of the Iraqi occupation of and aggression against Kuwait", "Review of the implementation of the Declaration on the Strengthening of International Security", "Report of the Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices Affecting the Human Rights of the Palestinian People and Other Arabs of the Occupied Territories", "Development and international economic cooperation" and "Report of the Special Committee on the Charter of the United Nations and on the Strengthening of the Role of the Organization", and of the Security Council.

(Signed)  Ali Thani AL-SUWAIDI     

Deputy Permanent Representative

Chargé d'affaires a.i.    

ANNEX

             Final Communiqué adopted by the Supreme Council of the

             Gulf Cooperation Council at its fourteenth session,

7-9 Rajab A.H. 1414 (20-22 December A.D. 1993)

In response to the gracious invitation of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Fahd Bin Abdul-Aziz Al Saud, King of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the Supreme Council of the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf (Gulf Cooperation Council) (GCC) held its fourteenth session at Riyadh from 7 to 9 Rajab A.H. 1414 (20-22 December A.D. 1993).  The session was chaired by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Fahd Bin Abdul-Aziz Al Saud, with the following leaders also present:

His Highness Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates;

His Highness Sheikh Isa Bin Salman Al Khalifa, Amir of Bahrain;

His Majesty Sultan Qaboos Bin Said, Sultan of Oman;

His Highness Sheikh Khalifa Bin Hamad Al Thani, Amir of Qatar;

His Highness Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, Amir of Kuwait.

Progress of the Cooperation Council

The Supreme Council reviewed the positive political, security, military, economic, social and cultural progress made by the Cooperation Council in the light of the conclusions and recommendations submitted by the Ministerial Committees and the Ministerial Council.  It also considered ways of promoting joint action on the basis of faith in a shared destiny, unity of purpose and a desire to strengthen the process of cooperation with a view to achieving the objectives set out in the Constitution and embodied in resolutions concerning all aspects of joint action.  It was guided in this respect by the royal address of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Fahd Bin Abdul-Aziz Al Saud, delivered at the opening meeting of the Supreme Council's fourteenth session, which stated principles and foundations for future joint action.

The Supreme Council declares its firm commitment to expedite the functioning of the Cooperation Council and to propel it towards broader horizons, in order to meet all challenges, to keep pace with regional and international developments and to fulfil the aspirations and expectations of the leaders and peoples of the GCC member States in terms of security, stability and prosperity.

Implementation of Security Council resolutions concerning aggression by the Iraqi regime

The Supreme Council discussed developments in the regional situation and new factors in the Gulf region in view of the violation by the Iraqi regime of the terms of the cease-fire, as set out in Security Council resolution 687 (1991), through a continued policy of procrastination in implementing the Security Council resolutions relating to its aggression and persistent repetition of expansionist claims against Kuwait, thus threatening that State's sovereignty and independence and endangering regional security.  In this connection, the Council vigorously condemns the Iraqi regime's policy of selectivity in implementing legitimate pertinent international resolutions, and particularly its failure to respect and comply with Security Council resolution 833 (1993), establishing the boundary between Kuwait and Iraq, its aggressive conduct towards Kuwait, the provocative actions of its forces and agents on the boundary between the two countries and its hints of renewed aggression.  The Supreme Council affirms its full support for Kuwait in accordance with the principle of collective security.

The Council once again urges the Iraqi regime to observe the terms of the cease-fire and to implement all the related Security Council resolutions, including the provisions of resolution 687 (1991).  In particular, it calls for compliance with and implementation of the resolution concerning the international boundary between the two countries on the basis of the agreements concluded between them and in accordance with Security Council resolution 833 (1993).  It also calls for the release of all prisoners and detainees, both Kuwaitis and third-country nationals, the payment of compensation and an undertaking not to perpetrate or to support any act of terrorism or subversion. The Supreme Council calls upon the international community to counter the Iraqi regime's attempts to circumvent the decisions of international legitimacy and affirms the need to maintain international pressure until such time as the regime desists from its aggression and complies with all its international obligations.

The Council also affirms that respect for Kuwait's sovereignty and independence, as stated in paragraph 2 of resolution 687 (1991), as well as for its international boundary, as established by the Security Council in resolution 833 (1993), constitutes the core of the obligations set out in resolution 687 (1991).  Failure to comply with these provisions represents a violation of the resolution's core.

The Council also holds the Iraqi regime fully responsible for the human distress and suffering inflicted on the fraternal Iraqi people as a result of the regime's policies, which constitute a breach of Security Council resolution 688 (1991), and refusal to implement resolutions 706 (1991) and 712 (1991), which address the human suffering of the Iraqi people.  Meanwhile, it affirms its resolute commitment to Iraq's physical unity and territorial integrity.

Relations with the Islamic Republic of Iran and the issue of the islands

After hearing a detailed report by His Highness Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates, concerning the dispute between the United Arab Emirates and Iran over the three islands of Greater Tunb, Lesser Tunb and Abu Musa, the Supreme Council calls upon Iran to respond to the President's invitation to engage in a direct dialogue with respect to Iran's occupation of the Emirates' three islands.  It affirms that the United Arab Emirates remains intent on dialogue and the use of all peaceful means in order to end the occupation and to restore its sovereignty over the three islands, in conformity with international laws and practices and the principles of good-neighbourliness and mutual respect between States.

In this connection, the Council welcomes the declaration by the Government of Iran concerning its dispute with the United Arab Emirates over the three islands and hopes that this indicates a repeal of all the measures and arrangements adopted by Iran on the island of Abu Musa, as well as an end to the occupation of the Emirates' islands of Greater and Lesser Tunb.  It recalls in this respect the Supreme Council's statement, at the conclusion of its thirteenth session at Abu Dhabi, to the effect that the development of relations with Iran is linked to the consolidation of trust and to the implementation by Iran of measures commensurate with its adherence to the principles of good-neighbourliness, respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the States of the region and non-interference in internal affairs.

The Supreme Council reaffirms its absolute solidarity with and full support for the stand of the United Arab Emirates.  It endorses whatever peaceful means and measures that country may deem appropriate to restore its sovereignty over the three islands, in accordance with the principles of international legitimacy.

The current Arab situation

The Supreme Council has followed developments in the Middle East peace process with keen interest.  It welcomes the signing of the Declaration of Principles by the Palestine Liberation Organization and Israel as a first step towards the attainment of a just, comprehensive and lasting solution of the question of Palestine and the Arab-Israeli conflict on the basis of Security Council resolutions 242 (1967) and 338 (1973), the principle of land for peace, a complete Israeli withdrawal from all the occupied Arab territories, especially the Holy City of Jerusalem, and the establishment of firm foundations for security and stability in the Middle East.  Accordingly, the Council expresses the hope that the current negotiations will lead to substantial progress in all spheres.

It urges the international community to persuade Israel to end its occupation of the Syrian Golan and to implement Security Council resolution 425 (1978), which calls for Israel's withdrawal from all Lebanese territory.

The Supreme Council is also following developments in Somalia with deep concern.  It expresses its profound sorrow at the continued deterioration of the security situation there and calls on all Somali factions to renounce their differences in favour of the national interest and to cooperate with the efforts of the United Nations to restore security and stability.  The Council reaffirms its support for Somalia through this painful ordeal, as well as its resolute commitment to Somalia's sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity.

The situation in the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina

The Supreme Council considered the situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina, in terms of security and living conditions, caused by the continuing iniquitous Serbian aggression and the perpetration in that unfortunate Republic of the vilest inhuman crimes of genocide by both regular and irregular Serbian forces, thus contravening United Nations instruments and posing a blatant challenge to international legitimacy.  The Council vigorously condemns the attempts of the Serbs and Croats to impose the status quo and to extract territorial gains in a manner inconsistent with international legitimacy.

Noting that the international economic sanctions imposed on the Serbs have had no noticeable effect in altering their aggressive behaviour or halting their systematic practices of ethnic cleansing, the Council urges the Security Council to take all the necessary measures permitted under Chapter VII, Article 42, of the Charter of the United Nations in order to restore international peace and security.  It also demands that the Security Council enable Bosnia and Herzegovina to exercise its legitimate right of self-defence in accordance with Article 51 of the Charter by, inter alia, lifting the arms embargo imposed on it and intensifying sanctions and pressure against Serbia and Montenegro.

While recording its appreciation of the responsive attitude of Bosnia and Herzegovina towards the attainment of a negotiated solution on the basis of the plan recently presented by the two international mediators, the Council endorses the just requests of Bosnia and Herzegovina that the plan be modified in order to give the country a maritime outlet and thus preserve its territorial cohesion and unity.

Cooperation and coordination

The Supreme Council reviewed the process of defence cooperation among member States in the light of the 12th meeting of their Ministers of Defence and of the significance of this issue in terms of protecting the security and achievements of the GCC States.  It endorsed all the Ministers' recommendations, particularly that concerning development of the Peninsula Shield Force and the numerous other military issues, and emphasized the importance of such cooperation in strengthening collective defence among GCC States.

In this connection, the Council decided to establish a supreme committee to follow up the implementation of resolutions concerning collective defence and military cooperation.  The committee, whose chairmanship is to be rotated annually among the Ministers of Defence of the GCC States, will incorporate the Chiefs of Staff and the Chairman of the Secretariat's Military Committee.  The rotating chairmanship will begin with the United Arab Emirates.

  The Council also endorsed the recommendations, made by the Ministers of the Interior at their meeting at Abu Dhabi from 9 to 10 Jumada II A.H. 1414 (22-23 November A.D. 1993), concerning all aspects of security cooperation, including matters relating to the Comprehensive Security Agreement.  The Ministers instructed the Under-Secretaries of the Interior Ministries to meet in order to finalize the text of the Agreement.

On economic matters, the Council expressed its satisfaction at the increase in trade between GCC nations and in the number of those benefiting from the application of provisions of the Unified Economic Agreement enhancing the interlinkage of interests among GCC nationals.  It also stressed the importance of implementing the remaining provisions of the Agreement.  In this context, the Council instructed the Ministers of Finance to persist in their efforts to reach an agreement on a unified customs tariff and decided to improve conditions for the acquisition of real estate by GCC nationals and to permit national airlines to conduct their activities without a general agent or a local sponsor if they so wished.  The Council also decided to establish the GCC Commercial Arbitration Centre and endorsed its draft statute.

The Supreme Council also endorsed the recommendation that nationals of GCC States working in the domestic public sector be treated in the same way as nationals of the host member State if employed in accordance with the executive regulations proposed by the Ministers of Labour.

The Supreme Council reviewed the steps taken by member States to strengthen the Arabian Gulf University pursuant to the decision of the Supreme Council at its twelfth session at Kuwait in 1991.  The Council emphasizes that measures must be taken to enhance the role of the University as a successful model for joint action and that the University should continue to focus on rare areas of specialization and to meet the needs of States of the region.

The Council expresses its satisfaction at progress made in applying the general policies and principles for environmental protection adopted at the Muscat summit in 1985.  It stresses the importance of continued joint action to harmonize policies, to unify environmental regulations and legislation, to strengthen national and regional capacities, to train manpower, to raise the level of environmental consciousness among GCC nationals and to conserve natural resources.

The Supreme Council also discussed the turbulent situation in the world oil market caused by the large surplus in supply, which has negatively affected the economies of member States.

In recognition of the need for action to stabilize the oil market, the GCC States are prepared to join in lowering current production if all producer States, both inside and outside the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), approve and commit themselves to a comprehensive plan for a proportionate decrease in production.

Accordingly, the member States endorse the related efforts of the Sultanate of Oman in conjunction with non-OPEC producer States.

The Council welcomed the agreement reached by States parties to the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) and hopes that this agreement will help to boost international trade and thus improve economic growth rates throughout the world.

The Supreme Council expresses its deep appreciation and gratitude to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Fahd Bin Abdul-Aziz Al Saud, King of Saudi Arabia, and to the Government and people of the Kingdom, for their warm reception and kind hospitality and for the sincere fraternal sentiments with which the leaders of the GCC States were received.  It commends the excellent preparations and the great efforts made to ensure the comfort of delegations and the success of the meeting.  The Council looks forward to meeting at its fifteenth session, to be held in Bahrain in December 1994 at the kind invitation of His Highness Sheikh Isa Bin Salman Al Khalifa, Amir of Bahrain.

Riyadh, 9 Rajab A.H. 1414 (22 December A.D. 1993)

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