Then, GCC Secretary General Dr. Abdullatif bin Rashid Al-Zayani delivered a speech in which he thanked the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, chairman of the meeting, for calling for this summit in Makkah. He also congratulated the GCC leaders and citizens on the occasion of 88th GCC anniversary. The GCC Secretary General also hailed the GCC leaders' keenness on the GCC security and stability as well as the GCC march. Al-Zayani affirmed that this emergency summit is held in light of very critical, sensitive and complicated circumstances which required more solidarity in order to maintain the GCC achievements and interests. "In light of the continuing Iranian provocations and interference in the internal affairs of the GCC States and the recent terrorist threats and acts in the region, including threats on the safety of oil supplies through sabotage acts against the commercial vessels in the UAE territorial waters and two oil pump stations in Saudi Arabia as well as the firing of ballistic missiles at the holy sites and civilian areas in the Kingdom, this important meeting seeks to take serious and active stance to maintain the security and stability of this vital region," Al-Zayani concluded. --More 01:23 LOCAL TIME 22:23 GMT 0051 www.spa.gov.sa/w1111896