EU, Gulf foreign ministers hold emergency meeting on war in the Middle East

European Union and Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) foreign ministers met in emergency session on March 5, strongly condemning the unjustifiable Iranian attacks against the GCC countries which threaten regional and global security and calling on Iran to cease immediately its attacks.

A joint statement after the meeting said that The Ministers reiterated their commitment to regional stability and called for protection of civilians and full respect of international law, international humanitarian law and the obligation to abide by the principles of the United Nations Charter.

“The ministers recalled that they consistently urged Iran to curb its nuclear programme and ballistic missile programme, refrain from destabilising activities in the region and in Europe, and to cease the appalling violence against its own people,” the statement said.

They discussed the significant damage caused by the recent indiscriminate Iranian attacks against the GCC member states, which targeted civilian infrastructure, including oil facilities, service facilities and residential areas, resulting in material damage and threatening the security, safety and lives of civilians.

The ministers reaffirmed their unwavering commitment to dialogue and diplomacy as means to resolve the crisis, commending the constructive role of Oman in this regard, and highlighted the need to restore regional stability and security.

The statement said that the ministers agreed to joint diplomatic efforts to bring about a lasting solution to prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon, to cease production and proliferation of ballistic missiles, unmanned aerial vehicles and any technologies that threaten the security of the region and beyond, as well as to refrain from destabilising activities in the region and in Europe, and ultimately allow the Iranian people to determine their future.

They reaffirmed the importance of safeguarding regional air space, maritime routes, and freedom of navigation, including in the Strait of Hormuz and Bab-el-Mandeb, as well as the safety and security of supply chains and the stability of global energy markets.

In that context, the ministers recognised the importance of EU maritime defensive operation ASPIDES and operation ATALANTA to protect critical waterways and reduce disruption to supply chains, and encouraged coordination for the support of the operations, the statement said.

The ministers also stressed the need to safeguard regional airspace and maritime routes, as well as energy security and nuclear safety, it said.

(Photo: Council of the European Union)