Kuwait, Dec 11 (IANS)

Leaders of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries Wednesday welcomed the preliminary agreement between Iran and world powers on Iran's nuclear programme that was signed last month.

In a communique issued at the end of the 34th GCC Summit here Wednesday, the leaders of the GCC countries - Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) - deemed the agreement an initial step toward a comprehensive and lasting agreement on Iran's nuclear programme that would end international and regional concern about the programme.

Iran and the P5+1 countries - the five UN Security Council permanent members Britain, China, France, Russia, and the US plus Germany - had signed the agreement in Geneva Nov 24.

In the communique, read by GCC Secretary-General Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani, the GCC leaders welcomed the new stand of the Iranian leadership towards the GCC countries, hoping that such tendencies would be followed by tangible steps to reflect positively on peace, security and stability in the region.

The leaders also stressed the importance of closer cooperation between the GCC countries and Iran as good neighbours and non-interference in internal affairs and respect for the sovereignty of countries in the region, and to refrain from threat or use of force.

Te leaders also praised Saudi Arabia's position to reform the Security Council to enhance its role in resolving issues at the international level.

The leaders condemned the acts committed by the Syrian regime against the Syrian people and sought the entry of humanitarian aid for the benefit of the Syrian people.

The GCC leaders stressed the importance of preserving Syria's sovereignty, unity and the territorial integrity of the Syrian National Coalition, considered the legitimate representative of the Syrian people.

With regard to Egypt, the leaders affirmed their support for the Egyptian people and their choices of democracy and said they would support the Egyptian economy so that Egypt can regain its leading role at the Arab and regional levels.

The statement also welcomed the efforts made by the US to back the Palestinian-Israeli negotiations that will lead to the setting up of an independent Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital.

The GCC leaders also decided to set up a Gulf Academy for Strategic and Security Studies, the headquarters of which will be in the UAE.

They also decided to set up a unified GCC military command.

The communique rejected the continuation of occupation of the three UAE islands of Abu Musa, Greater Tunb and Lesser Tunb by Iran.

It emphasised support to the UAE's sovereignty over the three islands, considering any practices carried out by Iran on the three islands null and void.

The leaders also endorsed a number of unified rules regarding the integration of financial markets of the member states of the GCC.