Antalya : Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi, Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), met with Thomas Byrne, Minister of State for European Affairs and Defence of Ireland, on the sidelines of the Antalya Diplomacy Forum in Antalya, Republic of Türkiye.
At the outset of the meeting, the Irish minister commended the efforts of GCC states in evacuating Irish citizens during the recent regional crisis.
The meeting reviewed means to enhance cooperation between the GCC and Ireland and discussed coordination during Ireland’s upcoming Presidency of the European Union (EU) in May. The two sides also addressed the importance of advancing negotiations for a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between the GCC and the EU to support Gulf-European relations.
The two sides exchanged views on regional and international developments, condemning Iranian attacks on GCC states and describing them as a threat to regional security, international navigation, and global energy supplies.
