EU to appoint a special representative for the Gulf

BRUSSELS, Sept 22 (KUNA) -- European Union High Representative Josep Borrell has decided to appoint a Special Representative for the Gulf to further advance the close cooperation and strengthen ties between the European Union and the countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).
Borrellآ’s decision followed a meeting with the foreign ministers of the GCC at the margins of the UNGA in New York Thursday, according to a statement released by his office tonight.
This meeting takes place annually in the margins of the UN General Assembly to underline the importance of the EU-GCC relations, it noted.
The EU foreign policy chief and his GCC counterparts welcomed the renewed dynamics in EU-GCC relations, noting the first visit of the President of the European Council Charles Michel to the region in the last week, said the statement.
This follows the recent presentation of the new EU strategy for the region "a strategic partnership with the Gulf" which sets out a blueprint for a more strategic and comprehensive partnership between the EU and the GCC and its Member States.
The meeting allowed for detailed discussions on how to strengthen EU-GCC cooperation across a range of areas such as energy and climate change, notably in view of the climate conference COP27, people-to-people contacts, closer and more effective co-operation in providing humanitarian and development assistance, as well as strengthened co-operation on security and regional issues.
A particular focus of the discussions were the ongoing negotiations on the Iran nuclear deal, and issues related to Gulf security. Partners also discussed the crisis in Yemen and expressed support for the efforts of UN Special Envoy Hans Grundberg.
The GCC and the EU agreed on the importance of effective non-proliferation for regional and global security.
Borrell met with the GCC currently chaired by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, which was represented by Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan al Saud.
The GCC Secretary General Dr. Nayef Falah Al-Hajraf, Sheikh Dr. Ahmad Nasser Al-Mohammad Al-Sabah, Foreign Minister of Kuwait; Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani, Foreign Minister of Qatar. Dr Mohamed Al-Hassan, from Oman, Incoming GCC Chair; Dr Abdullatif Rashid Al Zayani, Foreign Minister of Bahrein; and Khalifa Shaheen Al Marar, Minister of State, Foreign Affairs & International Cooperation of UAE participated in the meeting, it noted.
The six-member GCC includes Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and UAE. (end) nk