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21:35 GMT
LUXEMBOURG, June 14 (KUNA) -- The European Union and the Gulf Cooperation
Council (GCC) took a major step Monday to expand and strengthen their
relationship by adopting a three-year Action Plan.
Kuwait Deputy Prime Minister and foreign minister Sheikh Dr. Mohammad Sabah
Al-Salem Al-Sabah told a joint press conference, at the end of the EU-GCC
joint ministerial council here late Monday night, that "tomorrow we will be
celebrating the 22nd anniversary of the establishment of the relationship
between the GCC and the EU in this very city Luxembourg."
"So this is a momentous event. Relations between the EU and GCC could not
have been better," he stressed, speaking in his capacity as chairman of the
GCC as Kuwait currently holds the rotating Presidency.
He noted that the action plan is something that will hold "us accountable
by our constituencies in both regions."
"We have to produce relations and we have to show that this is not an
annual ritual but produces results for the two regions," said the Kuwait
foreign minister.
"In our discussion today we have covered all the issues pertinent to the
welfare of our two regions. We spent quite of bit of time on issues like
weapons of mass destruction, terrorism, dialogue between cultures. We'll
continue our discussion on the Middle East peace process and other regional
issues over the dinner," he added.
"This meeting confirms aspirations from both sides to have more strategic
relationship: regional stability, counter terrorism, human rights, economic
cooperation and will benefit from increased dialogue between the EU and the
GCC," EU foreign and security policy chief Catherine Ashton the a press
conference.
"Today we have made important steps in this direction. We have endorsed the
joint action plan to strengthen cooperation. The action plan covers shared
interests, global economic governance, education, energy and counter terrorism
for example," she noted.
Ashton stated that "we had a constructive meeting characterized by friendly
and fruitful discussions."
They also exchanged views on a free trade agreement and Ashton said she
hoped that "we will make a final political effort to conclude the negotiations.
"
GCC Secretary General Abdulrahman Al-Attiyah said "we have agreed to
accelerate work in order to implement the action plan in the nearest future."
The EU-GCC plan of action which was negotiated by senior officials covers
different areas of our mutual interest such as environment, economic and
financial and monetary cooperation, investment, trade, energy, transport and
culture and mutual understanding, Al-Attiyah added. (pickup previous)
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