Sazir,

Dr. Abdasha,

members of the security council.

Thank you for the opportunity to address

the security council in its first ever

consideration of cooperation between the

United Nations and the Gulf Cooperation

Council alongside his excellency Mr. Jim

Albui, Secretary General of the GCC.

At a time of heightened regional

tensions, partnership with regional

subregion organization such as GCC

remains indispensable.

It is a vital part of our collective

efforts to promote regional peace,

security, and stability.

Mr. President, as we meet today, the

Middle East stands at a dangerous

precipice. The Secretary General has

condemned the military strikes carried

out against Iran on 28th February as

well as the attacks launched by Iran

against the countries of the GCC and

Jordan. These action are clear

violations of the sovereignty and

territorial integrity of the affected

countries. All actors must pull back

from the brink and immediately cease

hostilities.

In it resolution 2817,

this council demanded the immediate

sessation of all attacks by Iran against

Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Atar, Saudi

Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and

Jordan. These attacks have been

condemned by this council and must stop

now.

Escalating hostilities are posing an

acute and rapidly growing threat to

international peace and security.

Attacks on energy infrastructure and

other civilian sites are particularly

alarming. They are causing devastating

harm to civilians and creating serious

risks for the global economy, especially

for the most vulnerable. Disruptions to

maritime roots in the Gulf and

surrounding waters are also having

global economic repercussions. They

heighten the risk of broader

confrontations. All parties must respect

freedom of navigation, which is a

cornerstone of international maritime

law.

The United Nations system is fully

mobilized to mitigate the consequences

of this spiraling conflict. However, the

most effective way to do so, it's clear

the fighting must stop now. The

Secretary General remains in close

contact with leaders across the region

and beyond. To reinforce United Nations

diplomatic efforts, he has appointed

John Arno as his personal envoy to lead

UN efforts on the Middle East

conflicting and its consequences.

Mr. President, the ongoing escalation

and its consequences underline the

urgent need for coordinated multilateral

action.

In this regard, strengthened cooperation

between the United Nation and the GCC is

imperative.

The GCC and its member states have

played the pivotal role in diffusing

regional tensions and facilitating

mediation in deeply complex situations.

They have also shown restraint in the

face of current volatility and rising

tensions. They have an important role to

play in supporting deescalation,

safeguarding regional stability, and

promoting pathways toward dialogue.

Mr. President, while the current war

dominates international attention,

conflicts elsewhere, including in the

Middle East, continue unabated.

in the occupied Palestinian territory.

Consolidating the ceasefire in Gaza and

advancing the implementation of Security

Council resolution 2803 remain urgent

priorities.

These steps are necessary not only to

stabilize the situation, but also to

create space for meaningful recovery

efforts. These efforts must be

Palestinianled and must preserve the

unity of Gaza and the occupied West

Bank.

It is imperative to protect the

territorial, political, and

institutional integrity of the OPT.

Progress in Gaza cannot be pursued in

isolation from the broader context

affecting the Palestinian people as a

whole. In this regard, GCC support has

been instrumental in mobilizing

political attention and resources for

humanitarian response and early recovery

efforts. It has also helped reinforce a

unified regional approach to a

sustainable political horizon. In Syria,

the United Nations continue to engage

closely with the government and members

of the GCC to coordinate support for an

inclusive Syrianowned and Syrian led

political transition.

The United Nations remain ready and

committed to doing everything possible

to help the Syrian people realize their

legitimate aspirations and to support

stability in the region. We welcome the

GCC's continued support for Lebanon

sovereignty, security, and stability. We

are equally grateful for its support for

the state to exercise exclusive

authority throughout its territory in

line with relevant security council

resolution including resolution 1701. We

also appreciate the GCC's support for

the flash appeal launched by the

secretary general in Beirut on 13 of

March.

In Yemen, the United Nations continue

its effort to preserve space for the

resumption of Yemen political process to

end the conflict despite the Houthi's

escalating actions. In this regard,

close coordination with member of the

GCC remains crucial. We also welcome the

GCC's continued engagement on Sudan,

including its support for mediation

efforts. Close collaboration between our

two organizations is important to create

conducive conditions for a ceasefire and

pave the way for a political process.

The United Nations also attach crit

importance to its partnership with the

GCC in preventing and countering

terrorism. In this context, we welcome

the strong cooperation between the GCC

and the United Nations Office of

Counterterrorism.

Mr. President, the United Nation and the

GCC have long shared common objectives

in the pursuit of regional peace,

security, and stability.

In June last year, the General Assembly

adopted resolution 79/295

on cooperation between the United

Nations and the GCC. The resolution

welcomes the enhanced partnership

between our two organizations in

conflict prevention, conflict resolution

and mediation. It also opens new

opportunities for collaboration.

The United Nations remains committed to

deepening its partnership with the GCC.

This is not only timely, it is

necessary. We must draw on our

comparative advantages and respective

strength in the pursuit of regional

peace and stability.

We stand ready to continue working with

the GCC to strengthen our joint efforts

to advance peaceful solutions in the

region. At a time of profound regional

volatility, the value of this

cooperation is clearer than ever.