RIYADH: Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Jasem Al-Budaiwi stressed on Sunday that the occupation of Palestine and the ongoing violations in Gaza are the root causes of the worsening crises in the region. In his speech at the Alpbach Forum 2024, which is being held in the Austrian city of Alpbach from August 24 to 26, Al-Budaiwi called on the international community to take a serious stand to confront the occupation and hold it accountable for its ongoing violations and support the right of the Palestinian people to establish an independent state with East Jerusalem as its capital according to the 1967 borders.

He also renewed the GCC’s call to hold an international conference in which all concerned parties will participate to discuss ways to end the occupation and establish an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital. Al-Budaiwi also called for reforming and supporting the role of the United Nations and its agencies in maintaining international peace and security and ensuring that they are not marginalized in an era that is witnessing unprecedented global instability, expressing the GCC’s belief that collective support for the United Nations is necessary to overcome these difficult times and adhere to the principles of global governance.

The Secretary-General pointed to the new challenges facing regional and international security, indicating that the use of armed proxies by states, the increased risk of nuclear proliferation, and the development of artificial intelligence in information warfare are factors that exacerbate tensions. He stressed the importance of diplomatic solutions to prevent conflicts, reviewing the GCC vision for regional security adopted in 2023.

Al-Budaiwi explained that diplomacy and international cooperation represent the main pillars of the strategy to maintain regional and international stability and ensure sustainable peace and security, noting that the GCC countries continue to support peaceful solutions to conflicts. He added that the recent Council’s initiatives work to enhance the appropriate conditions for negotiations, affirm international law, and adhere to the principles of the United Nations Charter on sovereignty and territorial integrity.

The Secretary-General stressed the GCC’s continued provision of humanitarian assistance, recognizing the severe impact of these conflicts on food security and the well-being of civilians in affected areas and pointing to the Council’s efforts in Yemen, Sudan, and other crisis areas, which confirm its commitment to alleviating human suffering. — KUNA