Gulf, EU countries agree to work on a nuclear deal with Iran
Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan expressed his country’s aspiration for the EU to “play a role in advancing the process of security and stability in the region,”.
He stressed the importance of the nuclear agreement being “a starting point for addressing the concerns of all countries in the region.”
In a joint press conference with Josep Borrell, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy in the Belgian capital, Brussels, Faisal bin Farhan said that “in the event of reaching a nuclear agreement, the agreement must be a starting point for addressing all the concerns of the region, including the Iranian nuclear program and regional security.”
Prince Faisal bin Farhan, who heads the Gulf side at the ministerial meeting at the European-Gulf summit, considered that “the EU plays an important role and is present in the Vienna talks,”
He expressed his aspiration to “have a role in advancing the security and stability process in the region and for the Gulf region to be part of the dialogue.”
Borrell indicated that the European-Gulf meeting demonstrates the “importance of the Gulf states.”
He noted that the two sides have “security concerns related to energy,” stressing that the EU is “the first investor in the region and the second trading partner.”
In response to a question about the security and stability of the Gulf states, Borrell replied: “I am personally responsible for coordinating negotiations between Iran and the international community to avoid Tehran becoming a nuclear state,” describing the nuclear file as “a very important issue for the security of the region.”
Borrell announced the EU’s intention during the coming period to “nominate a special envoy for the EU to the Gulf.”
He stressed the importance of the security issues in the region and the Middle East more broadly,” describing the measure as “very important for us, and not just because of Iran.”
A joint statement after the 26th Gulf-European Ministerial Meeting stressed the “importance of continuing to strengthen relations between the two sides in light of regional challenges,”.
The joint statement said that the ministers reviewed the “fruitful progress” in the strategic partnership between the GCC and the EU.
The statement stressed the “importance of strengthening relations” in several areas, including “political dialogue, regional security, counter-terrorism, trade, investment, energy, climate change, education, health, and cyber security.”
