JEDDAH, May 23, (KUNA): Kuwaiti Deputy Premier and Foreign Minister Sheikh Dr Mohammad Sabah Al-Salem Al-Sabah said Sunday GCC countries were keen on finding a peaceful resolution of the Iranian nuclear file.
Sheikh Mohammad, at a joint news conference with GCC Secretary General Abdulrahman Al-Attiyah after the GCC Foreign Ministers’ meeting, recalled that the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states have repeatedly called on Iran to comply with UN resolutions and honored obligations related to International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
Brazil and Turkey have recently brokered a deal with Iran to send 1,200 kgs of low-enriched uranium to Turkey to be exchanged with nuclear fuel for Tehran research reactor.
Sheikh Mohammad, rotating chairman of the GCC Council, said the GCC foreign ministers looked forward that efforts by Brazil and Turkey pave way for the resolution of the Iranian nuclear file.
Reacting to statements by Iranian officials that the GCC countries were destabilizing security in Iran, Sheikh Mohammad said the Arab Gulf countries “do not have expansionist quests but they are countries supporting stability and security, and have even paid the price for helping neighbors.” He cited Kuwait’s support to Iraq when the latter needed help. “The defunct regime paid back by occupying Kuwait in 1990,” he said. Sheikh Mohammad also said the GCC was supporting the national unity in Yemen and Iraq.
The Kuwaiti top diplomat, commenting on Iran’s occupation of three UAE islands, said the occupation of these islands was aching the Gulf-Iranian relations.
He hoped the Iranians solve the occupation issue either through direct negotiations with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) or seek international arbitration.
Sheikh Mohammad said the GCC foreign ministers’ meeting was important because the six GCC countries were relentlessly seeking to occupy a key position in the global political and economic map.
He said the GCC was involved in strategic dialogues with Singapore and China.
“The GCC countries are trying to engage as a united political and economic bloc in the global space not only the regional one, in order to be influential, “ he said.
Meanwhile, Sheikh Mohammad Sabah said that the euro crisis has convinced the members of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) of the need to “pause” and think the matter over, before going ahead with the common currency project, given the many lessons that could be learnt from this crisis.

Speaking to KUNA, he said, “After taking this pause, and learning from the lessons of this Greek drama, the GCC will be in a better position to resume its efforts towards achieving a common Gulf currency, and at a greater pace than before.” He added, “This pause does not mean postponing (the launch) of the common Gulf currency, and the goal behind this pause is to contemplate (the situation).”
Sheikh Mohammad said that pushing further with the common currency without studying the repercussions of the euro crisis would be “an irresponsible action.” As chairman of the 115th meeting of the GCC ministerial council, Sheikh Mohammad held a joint meeting with GCC Secretary General Abdulrahman Al-Attiyah, in which he said, “The GCC must study matters related to taxation and financial policies.” He also said, “We must contemplate the financial policies ... this requires harmony between our policies in order to create a balance ... we must launch the common currency at the right time and in the right way.”