The GCC countries need today, more than any time before, to solidify their joint action mechanism to address and confront challenges facing them in a regional, troubled setting fraught with risks and threats and an international environment experiencing rapid and important transformations in terms of stance, policies and trends, His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, affirmed.

In a statement marking his participation at the GCC-US Summit in Saudi capital, Riyadh, today, HH Sheikh Mohamed said, ''The GCC countries are key actors in the interactions that are going on in the Arab region and the Middle East given their regional and international influence, their ability to affect the course of events in the region and their strategic importance to the world. They have a great responsibility to preserve security and stability in the region and stand united against plots of chaos and destruction that some of the countries were facing. These circumstances give this summit with United States (US) President Barack Obama a special significance, especially at this delicate juncture the region is passing through.'' As head of the UAE's delegation to the one-day gathering, Sheikh Mohamed conveyed the greetings of President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan to the GCC and the US leaders along with his best wishes for success of the summit which he hoped would produce results that strengthen the GCC-US joint action and protect higher Arab interests from threats that target security and stability in the region.

Sheikh Mohamed said the latest co-ordinated and unified stance taken by the GCC countries towards many pressing issues and files send a clear message: the GCC countries are capable of defending their interests and gains of their peoples and have the will of taking effective action against any threats to their security.

Regionally, HH noted that the UAE policy towards crises in the region from Yemen, Libya and Iraq to Syria is based on clear principles with the top priority being the preservation of security and stability of Arab countries and standing beside them in their efforts to realise interests of their peoples and serve their aspirations towards development, stability and progress.

The UAE policy also backs these countries in their efforts to stand against the forces of extremism, violence and terrorism which pose a real threat to the present and future of all countries and communities, and to take a firm position in confronting interference in their domestic affairs or dictating a sectarian and religious agenda to them or to their peoples.

Making a note of the Middle East peace process and the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi affirmed that the Palestinian cause will remain the central issue to the Arabs, and that reaching true peace will result in tackling the many consequences and results left by the Israeli occupation and its stubbornness. HH emphasised the need for ending the suffering of the Palestinian people in accordance with relevant international resolutions and the Arab Peace Initiative so as to lay the foundations of security and stability in the region.

The participation of President Obama at the summit, HH said, had provided a good opportunity for the GCC-US leaders to discuss and exchange views on whatever serves security and stability, puts an end to the raging disputes and wars, and confronts the risks facing the region, mainly extremism, terrorism, proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, and others.

He lauded the GCC-US' ties as 'historic', and pointed to the commitment from the GCC side to further enforce them within the framework of mutual understanding and dialogue.

Noting Obama's participation in the summit, HH said it underscores the US commitment towards its ties with the GCC countries and its desire to learn about the GCC leaders' points of view on regional crises, issues and concerns.

''The GCC countries understand the nature of the changes and transformations taking place at regional and international arenas, and are closely monitoring them so as to respond to them with careful and forward-looking vision through diverse foreign action and building of effective strategic partnerships with important, influencing powers regionally and internationally for the sake of consolidating the pillars of security and stability in the Gulf region, Arab World and the Middle East at large,'' HH emphasised.

Sheikh Mohamed expressed his profound appreciation to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for its efforts to bolster the GCC-Arab joint action mechanisms. At this critical juncture in the history of the region, Sheikh Mohamed noted, ''There is a need for wisdom from Saudi Arabia's leadership and its heavy regional and international weight to strengthen Arab-Islamic solidarity.'' HH reaffirmed the UAE's standing beside Saudi Arabia in its stances and acts that aim to protect the region against schemes by foreign powers, and to preserve regional security and stability.

Source :WAM