GCC leaders express strong support to Morocco and its territorial integrity

The leaders of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), who held a landmark summit in the historic Saudi city of Al Ula, Tuesday have expressed strong support to Morocco and its territorial integrity.

 

In the final declaration that crowned the 41st GCC meeting, held under the chairmanship of Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman, on behalf of King Salman, the Gulf Cooperation Council expressed strong support to Morocco and its territorial integrity.

The Al-Ula Declaration stressed the importance of the “special strategic partnership between the Council of Cooperation and the Kingdom of Morocco.”

 

The Gulf leaders also called for intensifying efforts to implement joint actions plans agreed upon within the framework of the strategic partnership between the two parties, according to the Final Declaration of the 41st GCC summit meeting, which marked the beginning of a reconciliation between the GCC countries and Qatar.

“The Council recalls its positions and its unwavering decisions supporting the sovereignty of Morocco and its territorial integrity,” the declaration points out.

The GCC countries have likewise reaffirmed support to the measures undertaken by Morocco to impose respect for the free movement of goods and people at the Gueguarat crossing point, and condemned all actions or practices aimed at hampering free movement in this area.

Morocco’s GCC allies were actually among the first countries to welcome Morocco’s intervention in the Guerguarat area. They also welcomed the decision of the United States to recognize the sovereignty of Morocco over its Saharan provinces.

Two Gulf countries, namely the UAE and Bahrain, have opened consulates in the Saharan city of Laayoune, a gesture materializing their recognition of Morocco’s sovereignty over its Sahara.

The Final Declaration states that the GCC leaders will continue the march of unity and cooperation in order to achieve common interests to serve their peoples, tighten their cooperation, and consolidate security and stability in the region.

 

The Al-Ula summit marks the end of the blockade imposed on Qatar since June 2017 by a Saudi-led coalition including the UAE, Bahrain, plus Egypt.

 

The Emir of Qatar Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani participated in the summit after Riyadh opened airspace, land and sea border with Doha on Monday evening and after the Saudi Foreign Ministry announced Riyadh’s decision to restore all ties with Doha.