*US Secretary of State to raise Khashoggi killing with MbS

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has stressed the importance of unity among GCC members, urging them to leave aside differences to meet the challenges and achieve common goals.

In this context, he stressed the importance of co-operation among the countries of the region and leaving differences aside to achieve the required strength to meet the challenges and achieve common goals. He pointed out that the disputes between the GCC countries "do not allow the building of alliances or making a strong and flexible response to deal with common challenges and enemies, stressing the importance of the unity of the GCC states during the next phase".

Addressing a joint press conference with HE the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohamed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani, he said: "We're all more powerful when we're working together, when disputes are limited, and when we have common challenges in the region and around the world, disputes between countries that have a shared objective are never helpful. They never permit you to have as robust and powerful response to common adversaries or common challenges as if, as you might when countries have a dispute between them. We see this all the time. We have lots of places where we're building out coalitions and there are challenges between different parts of the coalition. It's something we work through, work around, and we're hopeful that the unity of the GCC will increase in the days and weeks and months ahead."

Pompeo underlined that the resignation of General Anthony Zinni, the US special envoy deputed to resolve the Gulf crisis, did not reflect any change in US policy, efforts and strategy in the Middle East or its commitments to the region, adding that the US continued to seriously engage with various countries involved in the crisis.

Regarding the US position on the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, Pompeo said talks are continuing with Saudi Crown Prince Mohamed bin Salman, adding that this issue will be raised in the talks to be held with the Saudi side during his visit to the Kingdom.

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