Brussels: On behalf of His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik, HH Sayyid Asa’ad bin Tarik Al Said, the Deputy Prime Minister for International Relations and Cooperation Affairs, and the Personal Representative of His Majesty the Sultan, led the delegation of the Sultanate of Oman to the inaugural GCC-EU Joint Summit in Brussels.
Upon his arrival at the summit's venue within the European Union building, HH Sayyid Asa’ad was warmly welcomed by Charles Michel, President of the European Council, and Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission.
During the opening ceremony of the summit, HH Sayyid Asa’ad delivered a speech as follows: "Esteemed Excellencies, Esteemed Highnesses, Leaders of the Arab Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states and European Union (EU) countries, distinguished guests, May the Almighty’s peace and mercy be upon you.
"It is with great pleasure that I convey the greetings of His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik, Sultan of Oman, and his sincere wishes for the success of this summit.
"This inaugural summit marks a significant milestone, ushering in a new era of cooperation between our countries. It reflects our shared vision to expand the scope of our strategic partnership and deepen existing cooperation across various sectors, notably in economic spheres, trade, investment, renewable energy, and our mutual commitment to facilitating the freedom of travel for our citizens, including business owners, tourists, and students. This summit lays the foundation for enhancing political and diplomatic cooperation, thereby contributing to the pillars of security, stability, and peace.
"The cooperation between our nations—in political, economic, cultural, and technological domains—serves as a bridge that enables us to address common challenges more effectively. We extend our gratitude to the European Union for its openness to cooperation aimed at achieving the positive transition desired by the global community, and for its commitment to deepening the values of peaceful coexistence and enriching interactions among peoples.
"Esteemed Excellencies, Esteemed Highnesses, Esteemed Guests: We warmly welcome the positions of countries that align with the positions of the GCC countries and the international community, particularly in the pursuit of an immediate ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and the recognition of the State of Palestine. Such international recognition affirms the Palestinian people's right to self-determination and supports the Two-State Solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.
In this context, it is our position that the Sultanate of Oman endorses the global coalition's commitment to the implementation of the Two-State Solution, as announced by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on behalf of the Extraordinary Arab-Islamic Ministerial Committee, in collaboration with the Kingdom of Norway and the European Union.
Furthermore, the Sultanate of Oman affirms its support for the initiative spearheaded by President Emmanuel Macron, the President of the French Republic, to halt the export of arms to Israel. This initiative marks a significant development within the broader international efforts aimed at achieving a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, safeguarding the lives of innocent civilians from the atrocities of the conflict, and putting an end to the Israeli aggression towards Lebanon, which represents a grave escalation and poses a threat to the expansion of the conflict's scope, violence, and instability in the region.
Hence, we emphasize the international community's obligation to address these consequences and adhere to international law, particularly by enforcing an immediate ceasefire and establishing justice, security, stability, and peace for all.
We extend our best wishes to all.
The summit was jointly chaired by Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the Emir of the State of Qatar, and Charles Michel, the President of the European Council.
Moreover, the summit delved into strategies for enhancing collaboration in addressing the most pressing international challenges and for strengthening economic ties. It also explored avenues for cooperation in trade, investment, energy, sustainability, and climate. Additionally, the two delegations reviewed methods to fortify relations between peoples, facilitate visa processes, and address various geopolitical challenges, notably those concerning the Middle East region and the conflict in Ukraine.
