The EU recently held its first summit with the six members of the Gulf Cooperation Council, with the aim of developing a closer partnership with powers in the region. A relationship that is based on opportunities as well as challenges such as human rights.
While the war is going on Near East As the EU enters a new and dangerous phase, it celebrates its first Gulf Cooperation Council. In ‘Europe Talk’ we talk to: Gulf Cooperation Council Secretary General Jasem AlBudaiwiWe talked about the agenda, trade, global security and renewed efforts. two state solution.
QUESTION: There are many issues on the agenda of the First EU Gulf Cooperation Summit: security, global warming, etc. But I want to start from the Middle East because we are in a very dangerous period. We see constant attacks by Hezbollah and Iran against Israel. We see immeasurable suffering in Gaza and Lebanon. Can you tell me what you think the EU’s role is and could be in all this?
REPLY: Definitely, The EU has become a responsible partner Thank you for your role in trying to persuade the Israeli side. Avoid their actions against the Palestinian people and again against Lebanon.
EU helped the Palestinian people. There are many members that we truly admire and appreciate I recognized the Palestinian state. We hope that all 27 EU members will work to recognize Palestine. This will be very helpful.
Question: So, has the EU had any success in negotiating with Israel? Many people also point out that the EU is quite divided on this issue.
R: Did anyone in the international community manage to persuade the Israeli Government to refrain from taking this action? Unfortunately no. The Israeli Government continues its policy. Military operation against civilians continues in Palestine and Lebanon. They continue this attack.
The International Court of Justice asked them to stopThere is also the UN and the Security Council. All countries in the world asked Israel to stop. They did not do this. We cannot put pressure on any group, any group of countries or any one country in this way.
Question: So, do you appreciate the fact that some EU member states sell weapons to Israel?
R: We hope that we do not want to highlight a group of countries, not just the EU. This is a global thing. Selling weapons to Israel at this time is a dangerous thing. They are addressing this issue somehow revenge mentality.
Mr. Josep Borrell tells us that he uses the following terminology: “Revenge will get you nowhere“They have to stop. We have to find a peaceful solution. Two coexisting states, a State of Israel and a State of Palestine. This is the demand of the whole world. We want this too.
Question: Can you tell us what you think Iran’s role is in all this? Do you support Hezbollah, send rockets to Israel, support Hamas?
R: Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), Call to all actors in the region to reduce tension. We asked everyone, whether Iran or anyone else, to refrain from any activity that fuels conflict and angers the entire region. We tried to give the message of reducing tension by talking to them. We held the first Gulf Cooperation Council ministerial meeting with Iran last week.. The message to Iran was clear: Gulf Cooperation Council wants a stable regionIran also tells us the same thing and demands to reduce tensions. They call for a normal relationship between the Gulf Cooperation Council and Iran and all other countries in the region. We want this too. This is the effort of the Gulf Cooperation Council.
Question: We see that instability will clearly lead to higher oil prices. So what will be the Gulf Cooperation Council’s reaction to this situation? Because we have already seen in the past that gas and oil prices rose during Russia’s large-scale invasion of Ukraine and OPEC+ refused to increase oil production.
R: Shona, This is not the first crisis in the Middle East. And this is not the first time the international community has faced the problem or challenge of reducing poverty. oil demand. The story is there. You can check the history. You can check the numbers.
We have seen this many times when the Gulf Cooperation Council plays its role regionally and internationally. Making oil available to everyone. What The price of oil is reasonable for seller and buyer. And oil is an important element of the international economic formula. We must make sure there is enough supply for everyone. Rest assured, the Gulf Cooperation Council will be there when the international community faces this challenge.
ADVERTQuestion: So they will increase oil production.
R: They will do whatever is necessary to provide energy to all partners around the world.
Question: One of the demands of the EU Member States during the Gulf summit was that the Gulf countries recognize and value Russia’s role more as a threat to global security, but also as a threat to the security of Europe in particular. Because we haven’t seen this yet. Do you think Russia is a threat to global security and do you recognize its threat to Europe, given its large-scale invasion of Ukraine?
R: Shona, Gulf Cooperation Council member states believe in dialogue. They believe in diplomacy. They believe in constant commitment. That’s why we have an excellent relationship with all our partners around the world. Be it Russia, China, USA, EU, Latin America, Africa, Asia. We stay in the centre. We keep the same distance from everyone. And we talk to everyone.
ADVERTThe message we send to everyone is this: We must avoid the use of force and use dialogue diplomacy as a means of discussion.. No one should use force of any kind. I am Kuwaiti and I know what the use of force is. When Saddam invaded Kuwait in the 1990s, my country and I disappeared within a few hours.
Question: So do you see Russia as a security threat, given that dialogue didn’t work because they bombed children’s cancer hospitals in Kiev and didn’t work in stopping Putin from invading Ukraine?
R: Well, there is one Security CouncilThere is a United Nations we can all turn to. This is our court. This is where such issues need to be addressed. You go there United Nations General AssemblyGo to the Security Council and address them, Shona. AND No one should be singled out on a particular topic or file. There needs to be a global, international and comprehensive effort to address such issues.
Question: What would you like to see regarding trade? But would this be a problem if there were provisions on human rights and gender equality in trade agreements?
ADVERTR: Cause it won’t be a problem We are proud of our human rights record. As six of us, we continue the dialogue with the EU on human rights. This dialogue is held every year and officials from both sides continue this dialogue. A comprehensive discussion on all kinds of topics Regarding human rights and labor, women empowermentchildren’s rights and all kinds of issues.
You can also consult your European colleagues about the excellent results obtained from these dialogues. The six of us are determined. Held once in Brussels and once in each Gulf country. Moreover, there is another area where human rights are discussed; Geneva is an area where every country is examined every five years, where not only the EU and the Gulf Cooperation Council, but the entire international community examines every country and examines its records every five years. .
We are very proud. We are very proud of what we have achieved and of meeting the demands. requirements of the international community on human rights issues. Our track record is great and we’re proud of it.
Q: My point is that many people will argue and say that the record is far from great when it comes to basic human rights and does not meet international standards. Whether we are talking about people arrested for tweeting and the frequent executions in Saudi Arabia, or in Qatar, where migrant workers are given great importance, their rights are taken away, they are subjected to torture, etc. . I think people might say that these standards really fall far short of international requirements.
ADVERTR: I don’t know. When you say people, what do you mean by people?
Question: Human rights experts. And then if you look at the reports, look at the reports from those countries.
R: I also question such reports because I don’t know who made them.
Question: Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, the journalists themselves.
ADVERTR: I’m talking about my human rights dialogue with the EU and It is examined every five years in Geneva.. I don’t know who gave these organizations the right or privilege to set the bar for the entire international community. human rights.
This is a dialogue. Again, we are talking about dialogue. There is no need to point fingers at anyone. You have to respect the laws of the whole worldthe culture of the whole world, the religion of the whole world. And we are re-examined every five years in Geneva. Someone comes and says “okay, this is my human rights standard, you have to abide by it. Otherwise, I will write a report criticizing them.” You can write any report you want. I am a member of the international community. I will respect the demands of the international community. I will continue my commitment to the cause and stated that the Gulf has become very ridiculous now. Really. I mean, we’re still justifying ourselves for that. I don’t know how far they want to go.
