MOFAIC hosts under-secretaries of foreign affairs and directors of the consular departments at the GCC foreign affairs ministries.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, MOFAIC, hosted the first meeting of the under-secretaries of foreign affairs and directors of the consular departments at the GCC Foreign Affairs Ministries on Monday.

The two-day event, held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, aims to enhance consular co-operation among GCC Ministries of Foreign Affairs. The meeting was attended by Dr. Anwar bin Mohammed Gargash, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs.

Dr, Gargash stressed that the meeting represents the beginning of more meetings in the future. He also looked forward to boosting consular co-operation to benefit the citizens of the GCC countries.

The delegates stressed the importance of this step in serving the GCC citizens and commended hospitality and warm welcome.

Mohammed Mir Abdullah Al Raisi, Under-Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, conveyed the greetings of H.H. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, and Dr. Gargash for the participants and their pride in holding this important meeting in the UAE. He also extended thanks to the participants for attending the meeting as well as the Secretariat-General of GCC for enhancing the aspirations and common objectives of the council.

He also hoped the meeting would show positive results, meet the aspirations of the wise leadership and contribute to achieving the highest degree of compatibility and harmony of the consular work provided by the GCC countries to their citizens.

Al Raisi added that GCC ministries of foreign affairs have the potential to enable them to move towards further integration, whose revenues are not limited to the economic and political aspects, but must be seen as an important means to stabilise and confirm the GCC identity as well as provide the appropriate level of services and care to GCC citizens. He also wished that the output of the event would contribute to enhancing effectiveness and competency in the consular performance.

"The consular departments in our missions abroad are designated to provide the best attention for the GCC citizens in consular and legal affairs according to the legislations governing this. Increasing cooperation and integration between the consular work in our foreign missions will constitute a qualitative shift in the protection and care of GCC nationals," he noted.