Sheikh Mansour attends GCC Summit in Kuwait amid call for Gaza ceasefire

GCC leaders congregate in Kuwait City for 45th summit

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  Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Presidential Court, is received by Sheikh Meshal Al Ahmad Al Sabah, Emir of Kuwait to attend the 45th Gulf Summit in Kuwait. Photo: Eissa Al Hammadi / UAE Presidential Court

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  Sheikh Mansour at the 45th Gulf Summit in Kuwait, along with Crown Prince Salman Bin Hamad, also Prime Minister of Bahrain. Photo: Abdulla Al Neyadi / UAE Presidential Court

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  Sheikh Mansour with Sheikh Meshal. Photo: Eissa Al Hammadi / UAE Presidential Court

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  Sheikh Mansour with Prince Salman Bin Hamad, Crown Prince of Bahrain, Prince Mohamed bin Salman, Crown Prince Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence of Saudi Arabia, Sheikh Meshal, Emir of Kuwait, Sayyed Fahad Al Said, Deputy Prime Minister for the Council of Ministers of Oman, Sheikh Tamim Al Thani, Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Sabah Al Sabah, Crown Prince of Kuwait and Jassim Al Budaiwi, Secretary-General of the GCC, during the 45th Gulf Summit in Kuwait. Photo: Abdulla Al Neyadi / UAE Presidential Court

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  Sheikh Mansour participates in the 45th Gulf Summit in Kuwait. Photo: Abdulla Al Neyadi / UAE Presidential Court

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  Dr Amna Al Shamsi, Minister of Climate Change and Environment, Mohamed Alsuwaidi, Minister of Investment and Dr Sultan Al Jaber, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology and managing director and group chief executive of Adnoc attend the 45th Gulf Summit in Kuwait. Photo: Eissa Al Hammadi / UAE Presidential Court

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Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Presidential Court, on Sunday arrived in Kuwait City for the 45th GCC Summit.

Attending on behalf of President Sheikh Mohamed, he was met by Sheikh Meshal Al Ahmad Al Sabah, Kuwait’s Emir, ahead of the summit that will see leaders of the GCC discuss areas of mutual interest.

In an opening statement, Sheikh Meshal called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and urged the international community to provide “protection for innocent civilians and ensuring the opening of safe corridors and the arrival of urgent humanitarian aid”.

He also hit out at the “double standards in the application of relevant international laws, charters and resolutions” which he said undermined “the region’s security and stability” while noting that Kuwait is “optimistic” about the recent ceasefire agreed between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon. He added that the truce would help contribute “to reducing escalation in the region”.

“Civilians in Gaza must be protected and provided with aid,” he said. “We reiterate our unwavering support to Palestine and to end the Israeli occupation, attain all their political rights, and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital, in accordance with international resolutions.

“We also commend Qatar, Egypt, and the US for their mediation efforts in achieving a ceasefire in Gaza and welcome the ceasefire in Lebanon as a step toward de-escalation.”

Sheikh Mansour was accompanied by Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs; Mohamed Al Hussaini, Minister of State for Financial Affairs; Suhail Al Mazrouei, Minister of Energy and Infrastructure; Dr Sultan Al Jaber, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology; Abdullah Al Nuaimi, Minister of Justice; Mohamed Alsuwaidi, Minister of Investment; Dr Amna Al Dahak, Minister of Climate Change and Environment; Khalifa Shaheen Al Marar, Minister of State; and several senior officials, state news agency Wam reported.

Sheikh Mansour expressed his gratitude to Sheikh Meshal and Kuwait for organising the summit and said he hoped it would result in decisions that support GCC action.

He said strengthening joint Gulf co-operation is a key guarantee for achieving the interests of GCC member states, noting that the UAE will remain a supporter of the integration process among GCC members. He also invited the GCC leaders to the UAE for the 46th GCC Summit in Abu Dhabi.

Also present at the summit were Prince Salman bin Hamad, Crown Prince of Bahrain; Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman; Sayyed Fahad bin Mahmoud Al Said, Deputy Prime Minister for the Council of Ministers of Oman; Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim; Sheikh Sabah Al Khaled Al Sabah, Crown Prince of Kuwait; and GCC Secretary General Jassim Al Budaiwi.

Earlier on Sunday, Sheikh Mansour was received by Sheikh Meshal, along with several sheikhs, ministers and senior officials from Kuwait.