RIYADH: Foreign ministers of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) will hold a joint meeting with US Secretary of State John Kerry here on Saturday to discuss key regional issues including Iran and Syria.
"The joint meeting will also focus on various aspects of cooperation within the framework of the GCC-US strategic partnership," said Abdullateef Al-Zayani, secretary-general of the bloc, here on Thursday.
Al-Zayani said that "the GCC and the Unite States will take stock of the regional situation besides discussing the follow-up subjects that figured during the US-Gulf Summit in May last year."
Several regional and international issues including recent attacks on Saudi diplomatic missions in Iran and efforts to combat terrorism are also on the agenda of this extraordinary meeting, he added.
The talks between the GCC foreign ministers and Kerry are also aimed at reassuring Gulf officials that Washington will work with them closely on all issues related to peace and security of the region, which is being hampered by Iran. This will be the first visit of a top US official after the Kingdom severed diplomatic ties with Iran and after sanctions on Iran were lifted.
Lincoln Frager, deputy spokesperson of the US Embassy, said Kerry is coming to Riyadh on Jan. 23 "to meet with senior Saudi leaders as well as the GCC foreign ministers to discuss bilateral and regional issues." He did not provide specifics.
Syria will prominently figure in Kerry's talks. Kerry said in Davos on Thursday that any delay to internationally brokered talks between Syria’s government and opposition groups would only be a matter of days.
Asked if he was concerned that a delay in the Syria talks, due to start in four days in Geneva, may lead to a loss of momentum, he said: “When you say a delay, it may be a day or two for invitations, but there is not going to be a fundamental delay. The process will begin on the 25th and they will get together and see where we are.”
"The joint meeting will also focus on various aspects of cooperation within the framework of the GCC-US strategic partnership," said Abdullateef Al-Zayani, secretary-general of the bloc, here on Thursday.
Al-Zayani said that "the GCC and the Unite States will take stock of the regional situation besides discussing the follow-up subjects that figured during the US-Gulf Summit in May last year."
Several regional and international issues including recent attacks on Saudi diplomatic missions in Iran and efforts to combat terrorism are also on the agenda of this extraordinary meeting, he added.
The talks between the GCC foreign ministers and Kerry are also aimed at reassuring Gulf officials that Washington will work with them closely on all issues related to peace and security of the region, which is being hampered by Iran. This will be the first visit of a top US official after the Kingdom severed diplomatic ties with Iran and after sanctions on Iran were lifted.
Lincoln Frager, deputy spokesperson of the US Embassy, said Kerry is coming to Riyadh on Jan. 23 "to meet with senior Saudi leaders as well as the GCC foreign ministers to discuss bilateral and regional issues." He did not provide specifics.
Syria will prominently figure in Kerry's talks. Kerry said in Davos on Thursday that any delay to internationally brokered talks between Syria’s government and opposition groups would only be a matter of days.
Asked if he was concerned that a delay in the Syria talks, due to start in four days in Geneva, may lead to a loss of momentum, he said: “When you say a delay, it may be a day or two for invitations, but there is not going to be a fundamental delay. The process will begin on the 25th and they will get together and see where we are.”
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