New york: As part of the Kingdom of Bahrain's presidency of the United Nations Security Council for the month of April, Dr. Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani, Minister of Foreign Affairs, chaired a high-level session focused on the cooperation between the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and the United Nations. The session, held at the Council's headquarters, was under the agenda item: "Cooperation between the United Nations and regional and subregional organisations in maintaining international peace and security."
According to Bahrain News Agency, the session saw the participation of Khaled Khiari, Assistant Secretary-General for the Middle East, Europe, the Americas, Asia, and the Pacific, and Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi, Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council. The discussions emphasized the importance of collaboration between the UN and the GCC to address international peace and security challenges.
Dr. Al Zayani conveyed greetings from Bahrain's King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, expressing pride in Bahrain's role as a non-permanent member of the Security Council for the term 2026-2027 and its presidency during April. He highlighted the adoption of Security Council resolution 2817, tabled by Bahrain on behalf of the GCC and Jordan, addressing Iran's ballistic missile and drone attacks. These actions have targeted critical infrastructure and civilian sites, posing a threat to peace and security in the region.
The Foreign Minister commended the GCC and Jordan's armed forces for their response to these threats, neutralizing potential harm and protecting vital assets. The international community's support for resolution 2817, with backing from 136 UN Member States, underscores global condemnation of Iran's actions as contrary to international law.
Resolution L.38, adopted by the Human Rights Council in Geneva and backed by 115 Member States, was also praised for addressing the human rights implications of Iran's attacks. This resolution reflects an international stance against violations of international law and underscores the importance of protecting human rights.
The session also addressed Iran's threats to global economic stability through potential disruption of the Strait of Hormuz. Bahrain submitted a draft resolution to the Security Council concerning Iran's attempts to control navigation in the Strait, emphasizing the need for a firm international response.
Dr. Al Zayani highlighted the GCC's longstanding commitment to UN principles and its role in resolving regional crises, such as the Yemeni crisis through the Gulf Initiative. He called for enhanced institutional cooperation between the UN and regional organisations to strengthen collective responses to global challenges.
At the session's conclusion, the Council adopted a presidential statement recognizing the GCC's contributions to sustainable regional peace and security. It commended the GCC's role in mediation, preventive diplomacy, and humanitarian engagement, encouraging ongoing consultations between the UN and GCC Secretariats to fortify institutional cooperation in areas like conflict prevention, mediation, and peacebuilding.