Kuwait's First deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah has reiterated full backing to an international alliance to crack down on so-called Islamic State in Iraq and Levant (ISIL).
The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) supported UN Security Council resolutions 2170 and 2178 that were adopted in August and two days ago respectively, Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled said in a speech as he was leading the GCC side in a troika meeting with US Secretary of State John Kerry in New York last night.
Resolution 2170 condemns gross and widespread abuse of human rights by extremist groups in Iraq and Syria, as well as places sanctions on individuals linked with Al-Qaeda-affiliated Al-Nusra Front and the Islamic State in Iraq and Levant (ISIL).
Resolution 2178, which was adopted unanimously two days ago, is designed to tighten the grip on foreign terrorist fighters.
"The GCC stands firm with the international community in this noble endeavor to eradicate terrorism and its support system," said Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled in his capacity as chairman of the GCC ministerial council.
He noted that an alliance of countries from around the world met in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on September 11 and in Paris, France, four days later agreed on the importance of ensuring the security, stability and territorial integrity of Iraq, as well as supporting the international coalition in combatting ISIL and other extremist groups.
Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled said the six-nation GCC highly appreciated the strong, continuous and constant commitment of the US to the security of the GCC member countries.
"We are glad to reconfirm that we are keen on promoting the basis and framework of our strategic partnership with the United State of America, to achieve a wider horizons of cooperation, coordination and consultation in all aspects in the benefit of both sides," said Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled.
The GCC top diplomats and Kerry discussed ways of further boosting political, economic and investment cooperation, as well as a host of regional and international issues of mutual interest.
The meeting was attended by Foreign Ministers of the Arab Gulf bloc and GCC Secretary General Abdullateef Al-Zayani.