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Differences among GCC countries "something from the past now" - Qatari FM

Qatari Foreign Minister Dr. Khaled Al-Attiyah
Qatari Foreign Minister Dr. Khaled Al-Attiyah

DOHA, Nov 25 (KUNA) -- Qatari Foreign Minister Dr. Khaled Al-Attiyah said Tuesday differences among the Gulf Cooperation Council member states were "something from the past now," and GCC people have a common destiny.
"The difference is something from the past now. I prefer to call it a difference not a dispute," Al-Attiyah told a joint news conference with GCC Secretary General Abdullatif Al-Zayani following a GCC Foreign Ministers' meeting.
The six GCC countries have overcome this issue following the November 16 summit in Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia, he said.
"We have to focus on strengthening the spirit of cooperation among our countries towards a solid and integrated Gulf bloc, so e need to double efforts," he said.
Leaders of the GCC approved the Riyadh Complimentary Accord that paved way for the return of the Ambassadors fo Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to Qatar.
Al-Attiyah said the GCC countries have many common economic interest.

Al-Attiyah rejected intereference in Yemen's internal affairs, calling on all political and social parties in the country to join hands and continue the political process in line with the GCC initiative and its executive mechanism.
Yemen is an important country in the region, he noted.
"A healthy and strong Yemen will directly impact on the security of the Gulf," said Al-Attiyah who added that the GCC ambassador to Yemen was assigned to explore best solutions to help the Yemenis.
Al-Attiyah meanwhile said the six GCC countries rejected all forms of terrorism and sectarianism.
He said the GCC states shared views over developments in Libya, Iraq, Yemen, Syria and Palestine, issues that have dominated the foreign ministers' discussions. "We are working hard with our brothers in the council to have a united vision towards all issues specially those related to Gulf security ... ," he added.
On Iran, Al-Attiyah said the GCC welcomed the interim agreement between Iran and the P5+1 group that was reached last November in Geneva.
"We are backing any country to using a peaceful nuclear program but also want nuclear weapons disarmament not only from Iran but from the entire Middle East region," he said.
There could not be security arrangements in the region without the GCC involvement. "This is very clear," he said.
Negotiations between Iran and the P5+1 group aim at making sure Tehran's nuclear program is peaceful, added the minister.
Al-Zayani, for his part, said the foreign ministers approved the agenda of the December 9-10 GCC summit. He added the GCC leaders were keen on providing "a safe and stable environment for the GCC countries and citizens." He said the summit would touch upon military matters, in addition to a host of economic, security, defensive, development and political issues.
Al-Zayani said the GCC countries' fight against terrorism was institutionalized via the anti-terrorism accord. (pickup previous) nnd.bs