H E Anne Koistinen, The European Union Ambassador to Kuwait, praised the results of the first historic summit between the European Union and the Gulf Cooperation Council, which was held in Brussels the day before yesterday.
The Ambassador specifically noted that the leaders of the European Union and the Gulf Cooperation Council agreed to expand the strong partnership between the two sides, which is based on mutual respect and trust, and raise it to the strategic level for the benefit of the people of our two regions and beyond.
“We look forward to Kuwait’s presidency of the Gulf Cooperation Council, where it will play a leading role in implementing the outcomes of this first summit between our two regions,” Koistinen told Al-Qabas.
A historical commitment on the agenda, Koistinen added that “As the Chair of the Gulf Cooperation Council, Kuwait will host the 29th EU-GCC Joint Ministerial Meeting in 2025, and the EU looks forward to building on the momentum of the summit and Kuwait’s upcoming GCC Chair and taking our relations to new heights”.
Common Language
Koistinen noted that in the current geopolitical context, it is very important for leaders of the two regions to find a common language to address regional and security issues of concern to both Europe and the Gulf.
She welcomed the fact that the joint statement of the summit referred to the outstanding issues between Kuwait and Iraq, stressing the importance of Iraq’s commitment to Kuwait’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and respect for bilateral agreements, international treaties and relevant UN resolutions, in particular Security Council Resolution 833.
The European Union and the Gulf Cooperation Council called for the full demarcation of the maritime border between Kuwait and Iraq beyond border point 162.
Khor Abdullah
Continuing further, Ambassador Koistinen said that the two sides also stressed the importance of the full implementation of the 2012 Kuwait-Iraq Agreement on the Regulation of Maritime Navigation in the Khor Abdullah Strait, which was signed on 29 April 2012, and entered into force on 5 December 2013, and jointly deposited with the United Nations on 18 December 2013, and called for the resumption of the meetings of the Joint Committee on the Regulation of Maritime Navigation in the Khor Abdullah Strait.
The two sides also renewed their support for Security Council resolution 2107 (2013), which mandated the Special Envoy of the Secretary-General of the United Nations and the United Nations Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) to enhance efforts related to the return of all Kuwaiti and third-country nationals, including missing persons or their remains, under the auspices of the International Committee of the Red Cross, and the return of Kuwaiti property, including the National Archives.
Moreover, The European Union and the Gulf States called on Iraq and the United Nations to exert maximum efforts to resolve all the issues concerned.
She concluded that the joint statement clearly affirmed the commitment to work together on practical and constructive steps towards safe and mutually beneficial Schengen visa-free travel arrangements between the European Union and the Gulf Cooperation Council countries, in line with the legal requirements in both regions.
Five demands confirmed by the final statement of the summit
- Iraq’s commitment to Kuwait’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
- Respecting agreements and treaties with Kuwait.
- Demarcation of the maritime borders beyond point 162.
- Full implementation of the Khor Abdullah Navigation Agreement.
- Strengthening efforts to return missing Kuwaitis and property.
