His Excellency Mr Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi, Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), confirmed that the first joint meeting between the GCC and the Syrian Arab Republic is a practical step towards coordinating visions and enhancing cooperation between the Council and Syria, stressing that this meeting responds to the consensus reached during the consultative Ministerial Council meeting, which took place before the 46th extraordinary session of the esteemed Ministerial Council on December 26, 2024, in the State of Kuwait.
In this meeting, Their Highnesses and Excellencies the Foreign Ministers of the Council countries stressed the importance of sending a unified Gulf message supporting Syria and its brotherly people and expressed their readiness to work with all parties to achieve a just and sustainable peace in Syria.
This was stated during the first joint meeting between the GCC and the Syrian Arab Republic, held on Thursday (March 6, 2025) in the city of Makkah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, chaired by His Excellency Mr Abdullah Ali Abdullah Al Yahya, Foreign Minister of the State of Kuwait and current President of the Ministerial Council, and attended by Their Highnesses and Excellencies the Foreign Ministers of the GCC countries, and His Excellency Mr Asaad Al Shibani, Foreign Minister of the Syrian Arab Republic.
At the beginning of his speech, HE the Secretary General expressed his sincere gratitude and appreciation to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, the King of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, for hosting this meeting near the Holy Mosque, and for the facilities and support provided by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to ensure the success of joint meetings with brotherly and friendly countries, as well as for the support and attention that the Gulf action receives from Their Majesties and Highnesses the leaders of the GCC countries. He also extended his sincere thanks and appreciation to His Highness Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, Foreign Minister of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, for his hospitality and warm welcome, as well as for the excellent organisation and preparation for this meeting.
HE the GCC Secretary General also conveyed his warmest congratulations on the occasion of the Holy Month of Ramadan, praying that Allah the Almighty may return it to our nations and peoples with goodness and peace, and expressing pride in gathering in this blessed land, within the confines of Makkah, to hold the first joint ministerial meeting.
During his speech, His Excellency confirmed that this first joint meeting between the GCC and the Syrian Arab Republic inaugurates a new phase of relations and cooperation. He reiterated the GCC’s long-standing belief that Syria is a brotherly nation and an integral part of the Arab world, with its rich history and a people that has contributed significantly to human civilisation. He firmly believes that the Syrian people deserve security, stability and a dignified life, and they should rebuild their state and recover from the devastation of war over the past years.
He further stated: “The GCC countries have consistently stood by their brotherly Syrian people, stemming from a firm conviction that a strong, secure and stable Syria is not only in Syria's interest but also in the interest of the Gulf, Arab and international communities. The GCC acknowledges that the road to recovery is long, and believes that rebuilding Syria requires the collective efforts of all regional and international stakeholders as well as international organisations, prioritising the interests of the Syrian people above all else,”
“The GCC’s position is steadfast in respecting the sovereignty of the Syrian Arab Republic and its independence and territorial integrity. The GCC rejects foreign interference in its internal affairs, as well as terrorism and extremism, while we emphasise that Syria’s security and stability are fundamental pillars of regional security,” he commented.
His Excellency also noted that the Council and HE the Foreign Minister of Kuwait, the current President of the Ministerial Council, embodied this position by assigning a visit to the Syrian Arab Republic and meeting with Mr Ahmed Al Sharaa, President of the Syrian Arab Republic, on December 30, 2024, in the Syrian capital, Damascus.
He further explained: “The meeting provided an opportunity to emphasise the importance of continuing the comprehensive transition process to meet the aspirations of the Syrian people for stability, and the importance of supporting national reconciliation and rebuilding the Syrian state, ensuring the safety of civilians, disarming militias and armed factions, concentrating weapons in the state’s hands, and combating terrorism and extremism. These are essential pillars for maintaining security and stability in Syria, and it is crucial for Syria to regain its regional role and international standing, promoting national unity and comprehensive dialogue among Syrian parties to achieve security and development while ensuring that no foreign powers interfere in Syria. In this context, the GCC welcomed the steps adopted by the transitional administration in Syria towards achieving these objectives.”
Furthermore, His Excellency said that the GCC welcomes the steps taken to hold a Syrian national dialogue conference, which are essential to maintaining security and stability in Syria, enabling it to regain its regional role and international standing, underlining that the GCC is committed to taking the necessary steps to coordinate efforts among the Council countries regarding the aid provided to Syria and calls on partners, countries and concerned organisations to provide all means of support to the Syrian brotherly people and lift the sanctions imposed on them to enable their economic recovery and meet their humanitarian and developmental needs.
“The support of the GCC for Syria extends beyond humanitarian aid; it also supports international efforts to achieve peace and security in Syria. The GCC countries and the General Secretariat have been keen to participate in the high-level ministerial conference on Syria hosted by the friendly French Republic on February 13, 2025, as it represents an important step to support a comprehensive transition process and to address the needs required for the current phase to restore stability and economic life to normality, reinforcing Syria's active role in its Arab and international surroundings. This meeting was preceded by another important meeting held on January 12, 2025, in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, to coordinate efforts to support Syria and push for lifting sanctions against it, as well as to begin providing all forms of humanitarian and economic support and to build the capacities of the Syrian state, thus creating an appropriate environment for the return of Syrian refugees,” His Excellency said during his speech.
He further stressed that Syrian sovereignty must be respected and that any foreign intervention in its internal affairs must cease, reiterating the necessity of combating terrorism and extremism, not only through security measures but also by building a strong state capable of delivering justice, restoring trust between the state and its citizens, and protecting the cultural and religious diversity that has always been part of Syrian identity.
Moreover, HE the Secretary General condemned the repeated Israeli attacks on the brotherly Syrian Arab Republic, including the occupation of the buffer zone on the Syrian border, as a gross violation of Syria’s sovereignty and a violation of the disengagement agreement concluded in 1974, along with the Israeli occupation’s decisions to expand settlement activities in the occupied Golan Heights, which constitute a serious violation of the UN Charter, principles of international law, and relevant Security Council resolutions.
He underscored that the GCC emphasises the necessity for the international community to fulfil its responsibilities to stop these aggressions on Syrian territory and for Israel to withdraw from all occupied Syrian territories, asserting that the Golan Heights is Syrian Arab land.
HE Mr Albudaiwi concluded his speech by affirming that today’s meeting marks the beginning of a new phase of joint work aimed at restoring Syria to the position it deserves. He expressed hope for building a partnership and strategic dialogue with the Syrian Arab Republic, similar to the strategic dialogues and partnerships between the GCC and other Arab countries, making this strategic dialogue a roadmap and a beacon for developing Gulf-Syrian relations at all levels.
