The GCC Ministerial Council issued a press statement as follows: The Ministerial Council of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Member State held its 142nd session on Thursday, Rajab 2, 1438 corresponding to March 30, 2017 at the headquarters of the General Secretariat under the chairmanship of Sheikh Khalid bin Ahmed bin Mohammed Al Khalifa, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Bahrain with participation of the GCC Foreign Ministers Dr. Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani, Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council. The Ministerial Council reviewed the issues on its agenda related to the GCC joint action and reviewed the progress of implementing the decisions of the GCC Supreme Council and the vision of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud on enhancing the GCC joint action as well as consultations on implementation of the Council's decisions to continue efforts to move from the phase of cooperation to the phase of union. The Council decided to adopt the general framework and regulations and rules for honoring the competencies in the GCC civil service sectors. The council was briefed on the reports of the Secretariat General regarding the GCC railway project, strategic urban planning, free trade negotiations and cooperation and strategic partnership with countries and international economic groups. The Ministerial Council reviewed the most important developments of these issues, as follows: The GCC Ministerial Council welcomed the outcomes of the 28th Arab Summit held in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan on 29 March 2017 and its constructive resolutions that serve the Arab issues and contribute to the achievement of the objectives and aspirations of the Arab States. The Ministerial Council reiterated its concern over the continued abduction of a number of Qatari citizens in Iraq, calling upon the Iraqi government to assume its responsibility to ensure the safety of the kidnapped citizens and release them. --More 20:48 LOCAL TIME 17:48 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/w366142