Jeddah,  SPA :

 At the conclusion of the joint ministerial meeting of the second strategic dialogue, which was held last evening in the city of Jeddah by the GCC Foreign ministers and Canadian Foreign Minister Stephane Dion, a joint statement was issued.

 On the Syrian issue, the two sides stressed their commitment to preserve the unity of Syria and its stability and territorial integrity, and the Ministers expressed their solidarity with the Syrian people, stressing the importance of full implementation of Security Council resolution 2254, and the resolutions of the United Nations and relevant, and to allow immediate access for humanitarian aid to all areas under siege, all parties and ministers called for the release of all detainees at random, especially women and children.

 The Ministers expressed their deep concern over the suffering of the Syrian people, including refugees and displaced persons affected by the war inside the country. They urged all parties to refrain from targeting civilians and infrastructure based on international humanitarian law.

 The Ministers stressed the importance of respecting the cessation of hostilities without violations, and provide suitable environment for the success of peace talks and a political solution based on the Geneva Principles (1) and the ministers expressed their full support for the envoy of the Secretary General of the United Nations, Staffan de Mistura.

On Iraq, the GCC and Canada Foreign Ministers expressed their commitment to preserve the unity and stability of Iraq's territorial integrity. They expressed their solidarity with the Iraqi people in the face of the so-called "Daash" terrorist organization, stressing the importance of intensifying support for and cooperation with the Iraqi government in its quest to meet the needs of all the Iraqi people.

 They also expressed the utmost importance to reach an effective and inclusive government, stressing the importance of the implementation of reforms and enhancing the capabilities of the Iraqi security forces in the war against Daash.

 The Ministers reaffirmed their support for the Iraqi government's efforts to maintain security and stability in Iraq and the need to provide financial support on a permanent basis to maintain the stability of the liberated areas and support for humanitarian programs to help those affected by the conflict.

 On the Yemeni issue, the ministers welcomed the cease-fire in Yemen and urged all Yemeni parties to abide by it. They expressed their continued strong support for the efforts of UN Special Envoy Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed and stressed the importance of achieving progress in the United Nations-sponsored Yemeni peace consultations currently hosted by Kuwait. They called on all parties to take the difficult necessary decisions to achieve a lasting and comprehensive political settlement of the conflict, according to UN Security Council Resolution 2216, the Gulf initiative and outputs of the comprehensive national dialogue. The ministers also stressed the need to protect civilians and ensure the delivery of humanitarian aid to all Yemeni people, without any obstacles and as soon as possible to ease their suffering.

 With regard to the Libyan issue, the ministers welcomed the assumption of the national reconciliation government in Tripoli of reins of power and expressed their keenness that the Libyans overcome all obstacles, through strict adherence to Skhirat agreement, respect of the authority and legitimacy of the government and use of this important opportunity to achieve a peaceful future. The two sides also called on the international community to assist the Libyan national reconciliation government to confront the challenges facing Libya, including the serious threat by Daash terrorist organization. They renewed their support for the efforts of UN Envoy to Libya Martin Kobler.

 The GCC countries and Canada stressed the need to solve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict on the basis of a just, lasting and comprehensive agreement leading to the establishment of a sovereign and geographically coherent Palestinian state living side by side with Israel in peace and security. To achieve this, the ministers reaffirmed the importance of the Arab Peace Initiative of 2002, and decided to continue the close coordination between them on efforts to urge the parties to demonstrate their commitment - through policies and actions - to the two-state solution.

On Iran, the ministers reaffirmed their rejection of Iran's support for terrorism and its destabilizing of the region, including acts that Hezbollah pursues, and their commitment to work together to address its interventions in the region, stressing the need for all countries in the region to deal in accordance with the principles of good neighborliness and non-interference in the internal affairs and respect of national sovereignty, non-use or threat of force and resolving disputes through peaceful means and ways.

 The two sides stressed the need for Iran to implement its obligations under the comprehensive joint action plan, and the agreement reached between Iran and the group of states (5+1) in July 2015, on Iran's nuclear program, and stressed the importance of the role of the International Atomic Energy Agency in this regard, and the need to apply an effective mechanism to verify the implementation of the agreement, inspection and control, and re-impose the sanctions on a speedy and efficient way if Iran violates its obligations under the comprehensive joint action plan.

 The ministers also stressed the importance of implementing UN Security Council Resolution 2231 (July 2015) on the nuclear deal, including with regard to ballistic missiles and other weapons. They expressed their grave concern about the continuing launch of Iran's ballistic missiles, which is contrary to the text of Security Council resolution in this regard.

 The ministers stressed the importance of making the Middle East a zone free of all weapons of mass destruction, based on what has been agreed upon by the countries of the region. They acknowledged the right of all states parties to the treaty on the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons in peaceful uses of nuclear energy, according to the obligations of the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons of the treaty, and the need to address the environmental concerns of countries in the region, and that Iran should ratify and fully implement all nuclear safety treaties.

 With regard to terrorism, the ministers condemned the barbaric crimes committed by the organization of Daash and other terrorist groups, stressing their firm positions of renouncing terrorism and extremism and the need to dry the sources of its financing. They agreed that the campaign against Daash and other terrorist organizations is not religious or sectarian but a war against terrorism and brutality.

 They also agreed to strengthen cooperation in this regard to defeat terrorism and enhance security and stability, including a redoubling of efforts to prevent the flow of foreign terrorist fighters.

 The two sides agreed to hold their next joint ministerial meeting in 2017.