Qatar Chairs First Meeting of GCC-EU Regional Security Dialogue

The State of Qatar on Wednesday presided over the first meeting of the regional security dialogue between the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries and the European Union (EU). Held at the headquarters of the GCC General Secretariat in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, the meeting was attended by representatives of the GCC countries and the General Secretariat.

The meeting was chaired on behalf of the State of Qatar as the current holder of the presidency, by Director of Policy and Planning Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Dr. Khalid bin Fahad Al Khater, while the EU side was headed by  Deputy Secretary General for Peace, Security and Defense Charles Fries.

Representatives of security and military agencies and institutions in the GCC countries and the General Secretariat took part in the meeting.

The meeting discussed ways of enhancing joint GCC-EU cooperation to respond to regional challenges, intensify work to strengthen defense and security structures and exchange experiences, and explored available opportunities to increase cooperation in peace and security projects.

During the meeting, the two sides also exchanged views on issues of common interest, including the war on Gaza and the regional escalation in the Gulf region, the Middle East, Europe and the Horn of Africa.

In an opening speech,  Director of Policy and Planning Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Dr. Khalid bin Fahad Al Khater affirmed that more than one hundred days after the outbreak of the war on Gaza, the world is witnessing one of the bloodiest conflicts, adding that it is clear that the consequences of the Israeli attacks on Gaza and the continuation of the war are dire. They have repercussions on regional security in the Gulf region and the Middle East and even at the international level. They undermine the joint ability to manage the current and resulting future threats.

His Excellency pointed out that the GCC and the EU represent two strong blocs that can have a decisive influence on current events. With the awareness of the scale of the challenges, there is an opportunity especially in light of the agreement on the importance of maintaining a system based on rules, justice and freedom, he noted HE Dr. Khalid bin Fahad Al Khater stressed the necessity of reaching a peaceful settlement of the Palestine cause in all its aspects on the basis of international law and United Nations resolutions, ending the Israeli occupation and achieving a two-state solution in accordance with the relevant Security Council resolutions and the Arab Peace Initiative. (QNA)