KUWAIT: Kuwait’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Chairman of the current session of the GCC Ministerial Council Abdullah Al-Yahya on Wednesday described the legal appeal filed by Iraq’s President and Prime Minister over the Federal Court’s annulment of the Khor Abdullah agreement as “an internal Iraqi matter that does not concern us”. He noted that the court has made its decision and the GCC is awaiting further developments.

Speaking at a joint press conference with GCC Secretary-General Jasem Al-Budaiwi on the sidelines of the third ministerial meeting of the strategic dialogue between the GCC and Central Asian countries, Al-Yahya highlighted the historic, cultural and humanitarian ties that bind both regions. He emphasized the shared political will to enhance strategic partnerships that benefit their peoples and help address common challenges.

Al-Yahya reaffirmed Kuwait’s firm support for the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people, particularly the establishment of an independent state

on the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital. “We called for an immediate cessation of aggression on Gaza, unimpeded humanitarian access and an end to the suffering of innocent civilians,” he said.

On Syria, he underscored the need for a comprehensive political solution based on UN Security Council Resolution 2254, one that preserves Syria’s unity and territorial integrity and restores hope for a stable future. Al-Yahya said the discussions also tackled several pressing issues including food and water security, digital infrastructure and artificial intelligence — sectors that are critical to stability and sustainable development.

In political and security matters, he highlighted the need to enhance coordination in combating terrorism, extremism and cyber threats, as well as boosting intelligence sharing. “We firmly believe that GCC-Central Asia relations have the potential to become a pioneering model of regional cooperation,” he said. “This strategic dialogue is an institutional framework that can turn shared aspirations into tangible initiatives.” Al-Yahya concluded by expressing optimism about the second GCC–Central Asia summit set for May 5 in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, saying it is expected to result in joint initiatives that will elevate cooperation to new strategic heights.

GCC Secretary-General Al-Budaiwi praised Kuwait’s role in hosting the meeting and its leadership as current chair of the council. “This gathering is part of a broader series of events hosted by Kuwait to enhance regional and international partnerships, guided by the GCC leaders,” he said. Al-Budaiwi noted the significant progress in GCC-Central Asia relations since the first summit in Jeddah in July 2023 and described the upcoming summit as a key milestone. He said the draft final statement reaffirms the commitments made in Jeddah and includes shared principles across energy, transport, tourism, culture and sustainable development.

He also condemned the grave violations committed by Zionist forces against the Palestinian people, adding that GCC and Central Asian positions were closely aligned, and called on the international community to act. Al-Budaiwi highlighted regional progress such as the Khujand Agreement between Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan, and the peace deal between Azerbaijan and Armenia as positive models for conflict resolution.

He reviewed ongoing GCC engagements with Central Asia across sectors including finance, investment, health, culture, transportation and diplomacy. Trade volume between the two regions has reached nearly $10 billion, with increasing investment flows. The Secretary-General concluded by stressing the importance of joint efforts to address global challenges like food security and climate change, as preparations continue for the upcoming summit in Samarkand.