(Kuwait) – The Amir of Kuwait, His Highness Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmad Al Sabah, opened the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) summit with a call for an end to the ‘human catastrophe’ in Syria. He issued the plea as Ahmad Jarba, leader of Syria’s main opposition National Coalition, attended the opening of the summit and delivered a speech in which he appealed for urgent help from the Gulf states.
“The human catastrophe is still ongoing in Syria which calls on us to double efforts and work with the international community, especially the UN Security Council which has remained unable to put an end to this human tragedy,” Shaikh Sabah said.
The UAE delegation to the summit is being led by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. Other members of the UAE delegation include H.H. Lt. General Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior; H.H. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Foreign Minister of UAE; H.H. Mohammed bin Abdullah Al Gergawi, Minister for Cabinet Affairs; H.E. Dr Anwar Mohammed Gargash, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs; H.E. Suhail bin Mohammed Faraj Faris Al Mazrouei, Minister of Energy; H.E. Obaid Humaid Al Tayer, Minister of State for Financial Affairs, and senior officials.
The GCC leaders will discuss during the two-day summit a range of issues including the situation in Syria, ties with Iran and boosting economic cooperation between their member states. Ties between GCC states and Iran have come under the spotlight after a landmark deal was reached last month between Tehran and world powers over its disputed nuclear programme.
