GCC Leaders Arrive in Doha
HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani led well-wishers to welcome his brothers Their Majesties and Highnesses the leaders of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) upon arrival on Tuesday afternoon in Doha to participate in the 35th session of the GCC Supreme Council which will begin at Doha Sheraton Hotel later in the day.
Also on hand to receive Their Majesties and Highnesses the leaders of the GCC were HH the Deputy Emir Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad Al-Thani and HH the Personal Representative of HH the Emir Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al-Thani.
Their Majesties and Highnesses the GCC leaders were also received by HE the Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al-Thani, HE the Speaker of the Advisory Council Mohamed bin Mubarak Al Khulaifi, a number of Their Excellencies the Ministers, HE the GCC Secretary General Dr. Abdul Latif bin Rashid Al Zayani, Their Excellencies the Ambassadors of the State of Qatar to the GCC countries and Their Excellencies the Ambassadors of the GCC states to the country. 
HE Oman's Deputy Prime Minister for the Council of Ministers Sayyid Fahd bin Mahmoud Al Said arrived in Doha Tuesday. 
Upon arrival, he said "It's a great honor to participate with the accompanying delegation on behalf of HM Sultan Qaboos bin Said to lead the Sultanate's delegation to the 35th GCC Summit and to convey the greetings of HM to his Brothers the leaders and their representatives coupled with wishes of success for the Summit to reach all that would achieve the aspirations of the region and its people of stability, growth and progress." The current stage has witnessed many variables that cast a shadow over the region, but many of them have been overcome under the wisdom leaderships in the GCC countries, he said, adding that the consultations and intensive efforts that have been made had the biggest appreciation from the citizens of the Gulf states and their optimism of a better tomorrow. 
The acceleration of current events on the regional and international arena requires us to reduce its impact on the achievements made over the past decades and on the peace and stability in the region, the Omani Deputy Prime Minister for the Council of Ministers said. 
The Sultanate of Oman under the leadership of HM the Sultan confirms its support for the blessed march of the Council and the continuous quest to continue to exert efforts in coordination with all the brothers in the member states to develop cooperation areas and to activate the decisions that will achieve the aspirations of the people of the region, he pointed out. 
He expressed Sultanate of Oman's appreciation to the State of Qatar and its leadership on what has been achieved in many areas. 
The Omani Deputy Prime Minister was accompanied by an official delegation including each of Minister Responsible for Foreign Affairs Yusuf bin Alawi bin Abdullah, Minister of Commerce and Industry Dr. Ali bin Masoud Al Sunaidi, Minister of Legal Affairs Abdulla bin Mohammed Al Saeedi and a number of officials at the government. 
King of the brotherly Kingdom of Bahrain Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa also arrived.  In a statement he gave upon arrival the King of Bahrain said we feel pleasure and satisfaction whenever our meeting is renewed on the soil of the brotherly State of Qatar and whenever we meet with HH the Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, praising HH's wisdom which enabled the State of Qatar to achieve progress in wide and swift strides towards a visible and tangible prosperity in all economic and developmental fields. 
"The convening of the 35th session of the GCC Supreme Council in Doha, reasserts the keenness of all our states and our appreciation to the State of Qatar and HH the Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani for his interest in strengthening joint cooperation at all levels in the light of the strong ties and the fraternal relations binding us for the good of the citizens of GCC States," the statement said. 
It added that '' it should be noted that what unites us with our brothers in Qatar stems from the close relations between the two countries and their two brotherly peoples, and we are always happy to meet on the soil of Qatar," the Bahraini monarch said wishing the brotherly Qatari people progress and prosperity. 
Expressing pleasure over the meeting between their Majesties and Highnesses the GCC leaders, King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa reaffirmed that GCC leaders are looking forward to unity of states and peoples, to achieve greater development, stability and a dignified and free life based on justice. 
King Isa bin Hamad Al-Khalifa said he has no doubt that today that GCC leaders are facing new changes, big challenges and complex relationships in the world ''that have had direct impacts for our states and citizens which made us more determined to move forward in strengthening our blessed march, and to look seriously and profoundly for developing methods of cooperation." He hoped that 35th session of the GCC Supreme Council would be an illuminated landmark for the attainment of many achievements to elevate the status of GCC citizens, thanks to the belief in God and reliance on knowledge as the basics of the realization of improvement, growth and prosperity. 
The King of Bahrain is accompanied by an official delegation comprising Minister of the Royal Court Sheikh Khalid bin Ahmed Al Khalifa, Chairman of Surveying and Real Estate Registration Authority Sheikh Salman bin Abdullah Al Khalifa, Sheikh Hamad bin Ibrahim bin Mohamed Al Khalifa, Foreign Minister Sheikh Khalid bin Ahmed bin Mohamed Al Khalifa, King's Advisor for Economic Affairs Dr. Hassan bin Abdullah Fakhro,King's Advisor for Media Affairs Nabil bin Yaqoub Al-Hamar, Dr. Mohamed Chariman of the Council of Strategic, International and Energy Studies, Abdul Ghaffar Abdullah, Minister of Finance Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohamed bin Hamad Al-Khalifa and Minister of State for Defence Affairs Major General Youssuf bin Ahmed Al Jalahma.
Crown Prince, Deputy Premier and Minister of Defence of the brotherly Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud arrived in Doha today.  
In a statement upon arrival Prince Salman said it gives me pleasure upon arrival in the brotherly State of Qatar to participate in the 35th session of the GCC Supreme Council along with fellow leaders of the council, to convey greetings and wishes of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz to his brothers the Council leaders, adding that the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques honoured him to deputize for him at this meeting. 
Prince Salman prayed the Almighty Allah that the GCC meeting achieve the success that commensurate with the tininess of the current phase in the history of our honourable Council as well as the circumstances and the very serious challenges to ensure solidarity and concerted efforts of the Council's member states to shoulder their duty of protecting the gains of the peoples of the GCC states and '' of protecting our homelands and the interests of our peoples". 
Prince Salman expressed appreciation to HH the Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani and the people of Qatar for the welcome and care accorded to him. 
The official delegation accompanying Prince Salman comprises Deputy Foreign Minister Prince Abdul Aziz bin Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz Al-Saud, Minister of the State, Member of the Cabinet, Chief of the Crown Prince Court and Advisor to the Crown Prince Prince Mohamed bin Salman bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud, Minister of State and Member of the Cabinet Dr. Musaed bin Mohammed Al-Aib and Minister of finance Ibrahim Bin Abdul Aziz Al-Assaf.
UAE Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum arrived in Doha today to lead the UAE delegation to the 35th GCC, Summit, which starts later today. 
The delegation accompanying Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid includes Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior Lt. General Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of International Cooperation and Development (MICAD) Sheikha Lubna bint Khalid Al Qasimi, Minister of Economy Sultan bin Saeed Al Mansouri, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Dr. Anwar bin Mohammed Gargash, Minister of Energy Suhail bin Mohammed Faraj Faris Al Mazrouei, Director of the Office of the Vice-President Lt. General Misbah bin Rashid AI Fattan, Director-General of the Department of Protocol and Hospitality in Dubai Khalifa Saeed Suleiman and UAE Ambassador to Qatar Saleh Mohammed bin Nasra Al Ameri.
The Emir of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah also arrived in Doha to take part in the 35th session of the GCC Supreme Council. 
The Emir of Kuwait is accompanied by an official delegation comprising First Deputy Premier and Foreign Minister Sheikh Sabah Al-Khalid Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Mohammad Al-Khalid Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, Minister of Finance Anas Khalid Al-Saleh, Minister of Oil and Minister of State for National Assembly Affairs Dr. Ali Saleh Al-Omair, Director of the Emir of Kuwait's Office Ahmad Fahd Al-Fahd, Chief of the Emiri Protocols Sheikh Khalid Al-Abdullah Al-Sabah Al-Nasser Al-Sabah and Foreign Undersecretary Khalid Al-Jarallah.  (QNA)