Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi, Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), said that the United States of America's use of the veto in the United Nations Security Council to prevent the recognition of the State of Palestine as a full member of the UN is considered a step backward in the efforts to achieve a just and comprehensive peace in the Middle East. He reiterated the GCC's unwavering support for the Palestinian people's right to self-determination and the establishment of an independent state on the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital. He urged the international community to take immediate and decisive action to ensure the recognition of Palestine and enable the Palestinian people to exercise their fundamental and legitimate rights in accordance with UN resolutions and international law. The Secretary-General emphasised the need for the UN Security Council to take necessary and serious steps to reassess international peace mechanisms to prevent the erosion of the rights of peoples and maintain regional and global security and stability. He stressed that all countries and international organisations must stand by right and justice, and support efforts to restore rights and build a better future for all peoples in the region and the world. Source: Bahrain News Agency