Heads of GCC legislative councils agreed Thursday to reject any recognition of Israel’s sovereignty over the Syrian Golan Heights and raise the issue at the next Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) meeting.
This came during the 12th meeting of heads of GCC Shoura, house of representatives and national assembly that was held in Jeddah on Thursday, chaired by Speaker of the Saudi Shoura Council Sheikh Dr. Abdullah Al Sheikh.
The meeting was attended by Speaker of Qatar’s Shoura Council Ahmed Al Mahmoud, Speaker of Kuwait’s National Assembly Marzouq al-Ghanim, Speaker of Oman’s Shoura Council Khalid al-Mawali, Chairperson of UAE’s Federal National Council Dr. Amal al-Qubaisi, and Speaker of Bahrain’s House of Representatives Fawzia Zainal.
Participants reviewed the 11th meeting’s annual report and approved a number of articles.
“The meeting’s success is represented by the presence of delegations and heads of all legislative bodies from the six Gulf states,” Ghanim said, adding that the meeting stressed GCC solidarity and coordination among GCC parliaments in all Arab, regional, and international forums.
He added that all participants rejected any recognition of Israel’s sovereignty over the Golan Heights, noting that it was agreed among heads of the GCC parliaments to raise this issue at IPU’s next meeting in Doha and issue a joint statement in this regard.
Ghanim said top lawmakers affirmed that the Golan Heights is an indivisible part of Syria and US’ recognition will affect regional peace.
It was also agreed to hold another meeting in the Sultanate of Oman, Ghanim noted, explaining that its topic will be chosen in coordination among heads of all GCC parliaments and their general secretaries.
“I am participating in the important meeting for the first time after my election as Bahrain’s House of Representatives to complete the cooperation and integration process established by leaders of the GCC since the blessed establishment of this Council 38 years ago,” said Zainal.
She stressed that the presence of two chairwomen at this meeting reflected the outstanding achievements of the GCC countries in the field of women's rights.
Zainal pointed out that women in GCC countries have made great strides and are now partners with men in the business, creative, and construction fields.
This is due to the keenness of the six countries’ leadership to advance women and support their participation in the nations’ development process.
