RIYADH: Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Secretary General Dr Nayef Al-Hajraf discussed with British Minister of International Trade Ranil Jayawardena economic partnership between the two sides. The two men discussed in a virtual meeting Monday progress of partnership that was launched between the Gulf Cooperation Council and Britain in 2016 in Bahrain, a GCC statement said. They also discussed means of promoting economic and trade cooperation, and to prepare grounds for a free trade agreement following Brexit. Hajraf and Jayawardena discussed efforts to combat COVID-19.

Meanwhile, the GCC condemned the Houthi militias for launching booby-trapped drones against populated areas in southern Saudi Arabia on Monday. These terrorist attacks, which nonetheless take place at a time the world was focusing on curbing the coronavirus, aimed at destabilizing security of Saudi Arabia and the Gulf region, Hajraf said in a statement. The drone attacks, he added, were blatant violations of international laws which restricted attacks of civilians and civilian areas. He commended the Saudi airforce for intercepting and destroying the drones before reaching their targets. The GCC stands firmly with Saudi Arabia in all measure the Kingdom have been taking to preserve its security, stability and safety of the population, he said. Hajraf urged the international community to live up to its responsibility and make the Houthis stop their hostile acts. —KUNA