GCC chief: Arabian Gulf States' security is indivisible

DOHA, Sept 18 (KUNA) -- Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Jasem Al-Budaiwi affirmed on Thursday that GCC has operated on the principle that the security of its member states is indivisible.
"Therefore, Qatar's security is an integral part of our shared Gulf security and any attack against it or any other Gulf state is an attack against our collective security," Al-Budaiwi said in the extraordinary session of the GCC Joint Defense Council held in the Qatari capital Doha today. The session was chaired by Qatari Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Defense and President of the GCC Joint Defense Council's current extraordinary session Shaikh Saoud bin Abdulrahman Al Thani and was attended by defense ministers of the GCC member states and their representatives.
The GCC chief said the meeting comes in implementation of the directives of GCC leaders, to hold an urgent meeting of the GCC Joint Defense Council in Doha, preceded by a meeting of the Supreme Military Committee, to assess the defense situation of the GCC states and the sources of threat in light of the Israeli aggression against the sisterly State of Qatar.
He added that the GCC leaders has also directed the GCC Unified Military Command to take the necessary executive measures to activate joint defense mechanisms and the Gulf's deterrent capabilities.
The Secretary General also described the Israeli airstrike on Doha as "a treacherous attack and a flagrant violation of Qatar's sovereignty by the Israeli occupation forces, which targeted residential areas crowded with schools, kindergartens and diplomatic missions, resulting in the deaths of innocent victims".
He affirmed that the Israeli aggressive act represented a dangerous and unacceptable escalation and a grave violation of the principles of international law and the United Nations Charter.
"This was embodied in the regional and international positions condemning this attack and the statements of solidarity and support for the State of Qatar. This international momentum confirms the prominent and distinguished status enjoyed by the State of Qatar, on the one hand, and, on the other, has made the world aware of the danger of reckless Israeli policies, which now significantly threaten security and stability in the region," the Secretary General said.
He pointed out that integration and cooperation between GCC armed Gulf forces in confronting the crises and wars has proven to be a model to be emulated regionally and internationally.
"The joint heroic stances have served as a living testament to the unity of the Gulf ranks, sending a clear message to the world that the security of the GCC states is indivisible," Al-Budaiwi clarified.
He added that the Joint Defense Agreement explicitly states that any attack against any of the GCC states is an attack against all of them.
"Based on this, we look forward today, through your esteemed meeting and your sound directives, to coming up with recommendations that will contribute to further strengthening the defense integration between our armed forces to confront various present and future challenges and threats, and to respond to any aggression targeting any GCC state," he said. (end) sss.ibi