19- The council reviewed a number of reports on the routine common integration march including the following: 1- progress of GCC monetary council 2- GCC railway project 3- GCC common market 4- Water network and water comprehensive strategy 5- implementation of education-related resolutions of the supreme council 6- GCC preventive plan to combat contagious diseases Common military work: 20- The council was briefed on a report submitted by the joint defense council as an outcome of its meeting held in Riyadh in November 2016 on the joint defense field, and endorsed them 21- The council expressed satisfaction over the achievements done within the implementation of defense integration among the GCC countries aiming to build a strong partnership and establish an effective defense system to confront the different challenges and threats as well as the steps taken to establish a unified military leadership and instructed that all remaining procedure to have it completed be taken Security Coordination and Cooperation: 22- The council lauded the success of the Arab Gulf Security military drill (1), hosted by Bahrain in November 2016, citing the importance of such activity to enhance security cooperation among member states 23- The council endorsed the interior ministers decisions they took at their 35th meeting held in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on November 29, 2016. Combating of Terrorism: 24- The council confirmed the GCC firm positions towards terrorism and extremism and their rejection of all their forms and kinds as well as their motives and justifications whatever their source and urged for working to dry up their source of finance and voice absolute commitment to fight deviant thoughts of the terrorist groups aiming to defame the Islamic religion. The council confirmed its belief that tolerance and co-existence among nations and people are among the most important principles and values constituting the bases of the GCC societies and their treatment with other peoples 25- The council strongly denounced the suicide explosions which took place in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in Ramadan in the vicinity of the prophet's mosque in Al-madinah Al-Munawarah, Qatif province and city of Jeddah 26- The council lauded the efforts being exerted by the security authorities of Bahrain enabling them to thwart terrorist plots and arrest the members of the terrorist cells tasked to implement the Iranian revolutionary guard and Hezbollah-supported plots targeting a number of sites in Bahrain. 27- The council reiterated its confirmation of considering Hezbollah militias as terrorist organization and confirmed that the GCC states are embarked on taking the necessary measures to implement their decision in this regard based on anti-terror and money laundering combat rules applied in the member states 28- The council welcomed the outcome of the second meeting of the international coalition to combat the terror organization of Daesh, held at Andrews airbase in the vicinity of Washington on July 20, 2016 Legal and Legislative Affairs: 29- The council expressed satisfaction over the outcome of the ninth meeting of the speakers of the shura, representatives, and national assemblies of the GCC member countries, held in Bahrain in November 2016 30- The council expressed profound concern and denunciation of the U.S. congress law called Justice Against Sponsoring Terrorism Act, contrary to all international norms and laws and bases of relations among world member countries and the principle of sovereign immunity, hoping that the U.S. authorities would re-consider this legislation as it would have negative reflections on relations among countries, including the United States, in addition to the international economic harms that might be sustained from it. Supreme Council Consultative Commission: 31- The council was briefed on the views of the consultative commission on issues it was previously assigned to study as follows: A comprehensive strategy on environmental cooperation among the GCC countries A study on the GCC citizens productivity Enhancing the role of the GCC private sector in investment in agricultural and livestock projects. and transferred them to specialized ministerial committees. However, it assigned the consultative commission to study the following issues: Importance and hazards of social media networks Role of women in comprehensive development in the GCC Framework and fields of strategic cooperation among the GCC and Africa. --More 22:17 LOCAL TIME 19:17 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/w285739