Latest news with #JassimAlbudaiwi
Saudi Gazette
18 hours ago
- Politics
- Saudi Gazette
GCC slams Israeli attack on Iran and calls on all parties to exercise restraint
Saudi Gazette report RIYADH — The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) condemned the Israeli aggression on Iran and urged all parties to exercise restraint and halt the war to avoid a dangerous slide into a wider conflict. Jassim Albudaiwi, secretary general of GCC, said this in a statement following the 48th extraordinary meeting of the GCC Ministerial Council held via video conference on Monday. Abdullah Al-Yahya, Kuwait's minister of foreign affairs and chairman of the current session of the Ministerial Council, chaired the meeting, which was attended by the GCC foreign ministers. The meeting decided to activate the Emergency Management Center to prevent environmental and radiological hazards. Albudaiwi said that the meeting reviewed that the region has been witnessing an extremely dangerous and unprecedented escalation in recent days due to the attacks by the Israeli occupation forces on Iran and the response by Iran. "This has heightened tensions in the region and opened the door to disturbing scenarios, undermining the prospects for political processes and leading to the collapse of dialogue and diplomatic efforts," he said. The GCC chief emphasized that the Gulf countries remain committed to calming tensions, enabling to start dialogue, and preventing a slide into any conflict that threatens the stability of the Gulf and the world. The meeting underlined the need to avoid a dangerous slide into a wider conflict of which the outcomes will be unpredictable and uncontrollable. The meeting discussed the repercussions and challenges that may face GCC countries as a result of these rapid developments. These include the implications of any escalation that may affect nuclear facilities, given its potential impact on the regional environment and vital infrastructure. These repercussions could also extend to the economy, disrupt supply chains, trade and energy flows, and threaten the safety of vital waterways. Albudaiwi said that the GCC meeting has decided to activate the GCC Emergency Management Center to take all necessary preventive measures at all environmental and radiological levels, and to closely monitor technical indicators in these critical circumstances. This is in line with the implementation of the Supreme Council's directives to strengthen emergency response systems in the context of the potentially serious technical and environmental repercussions of any targeting of nuclear facilities. This is done in full coordination with the competent authorities in member states and through early warning systems. Albudaiwi noted that technical indicators so far remain within the safe range, and there is no cause for concern. He emphasized that the state of full alert remains in place to ensure the highest levels of preparedness and to reinforce the ongoing vigilance as required by the situation.
Asharq Al-Awsat
25-04-2025
- Politics
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Albudaiwi Stresses GCC Commitment to Combating All Forms of Human Trafficking
Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Jassim Albudaiwi stressed that the Governmental Forum to Combat Human Trafficking in the Middle East has received regional and international acclaim for the efforts of GCC countries. He noted that since its inception, the forum has contributed to shaping a unified GCC vision to address human trafficking, tailored to the region's unique economic and geographic characteristics, as well as the evolving challenges of this crime, particularly with the use of modern technologies and transnational organized crime networks, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Thursday. Albudaiwi made his remarks during his speech at the opening of the sixth Governmental Forum to Combat Human Trafficking in the Middle East for 2025, held in Kuwait. The forum was attended by Minister of Justice of Kuwait Counselor Nasser Al-Sumait, along with several ministers and senior representatives from member states, as well as delegates from the GCC Secretariat, the Arab League, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), and the US Department of State. Albudaiwi highlighted the adoption of national laws that criminalize human trafficking and establish clear mechanisms for victim protection and offender prosecution. These efforts include the formation of national committees and agencies, establishment of shelters, hotlines, and national referral systems for potential victims, as well as specialized training for security and judicial personnel. He also cited regulatory reforms in labor markets through updated labor legislation and expanded regional and international cooperation with organizations such as UNODC, the International Organization for Migration, and the International Labor Organization to implement joint preventive and awareness programs. Albudaiwi concluded and called for united efforts among countries to address shared challenges, enhance coordination, and sustain collective action, mainly in combating transnational crimes and protecting vulnerable groups such as women, children, and migrants. He reaffirmed the GCC's steadfast and ongoing commitment to combating human trafficking in all its forms, advancing legislative and regulatory frameworks, and enhancing regional and international cooperation to ensure victim protection, offender accountability, and the promotion of justice and human rights.
Saudi Gazette
05-03-2025
- Politics
- Saudi Gazette
Strengthening strategic ties to figure high in GCC plus Arab meeting in Makkah on Thursday
Saudi Gazette report RIYADH — Four Arab countries will join the 163rd Ministerial Council meeting of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries in Makkah on Thursday. The agenda of the meeting focuses mainly on strengthening strategic relation and joint work in a number of fields. Kuwaiti Foreign Minister Abdullah Al-Yahya, chairman of the current session of the Ministerial Council, will preside over the meeting in the presence of the foreign ministers of the GCC countries. There will be joint ministerial meetings on the sidelines between the Gulf countries and each of: Egypt, Syria, Morocco and Jordan. Meanwhile, GCC Secretary General Jassim Albudaiwi said that the Ministerial Council will discuss a number of reports on following up on the implementation of the decisions of the 45th GCC Supreme Council held in Kuwait in December 2024. The agenda of the meeting also included memoranda and reports submitted by the ministerial and technical committees and the General Secretariat, and topics related to dialogues and strategic relations between the GCC countries and global countries and blocs, in addition to the latest regional and international developments in the region. With regard to the joint ministerial meetings with Egypt, Syria, Morocco, and Jordan, Albudaiwi said that they will discuss several topics, the most important of which are strengthening strategic relations and joint work in a number of areas to achieve common interests. They also continue consultation, coordination, and exchange of views on regional and international issues of common interest, in a way that supports and enhances security and stability in the region.
