GCC calls for unity

The 33rd annual summit of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) opened in Manama on Monday with a call for closer economic integration and unity. His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa of Bahrain, who opened the summit, called for the Gulf Cooperation Council to provide “a security umbrella for its peoples” and urged “economic complementarity” between its six member states.   The GCC states comprise Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, the UAE and Saudi Arabia.   The UAE delegation to the two-day summit is being led by His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.   Ahead of the opening ceremony, Shaikh Mohammed held talks with GCC leaders on the current regional situation and agenda of the summit.   In his address to GCC leaders, Saudi Crown Prince Salman bin Abdulaziz also delivered an appeal for unity. The GCC states comprise Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, the UAE and Saudi Arabia.   “We aspire to a strong union with integrated economies, a joint foreign policy and a common defence system,” he said.   The Amir of Kuwait, His Highness Shaikh Sabah Al Ahmad Al Sabah called for humanitarian aid for Syrian civilians and urged Iran to reach a peaceful resolution of issues with neighbours, including over three occupied UAE islands of Abu Musa and Greater and Lesser Tunbs.   He announced a donor conference for civilians caught up in the Syrian conflict to be held in Kuwait at the end of January at the request of the United Nations.   The two-day GCC summit is to focus on strengthening “Gulf unity... especially politically, economically, in defence, security and culturally”, Bahrain’s Foreign Minister Shaikh Khaled bin Ahmed Al Khalifa said on Sunday.   “The summit is taking place under extremely sensitive and delicate circumstances, whose impact (on Gulf states) must be studied,” said the GCC Secretary-General, Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani, ahead of the meeting.   The meeting is also expected to discuss the conflict roiling Syria and the situation in Yemen.   The UAE delegation to the summit include Lt-Gen Shaikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior; Shaikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Foreign Minister; Sultan bin Saeed Al Mansouri, Minister of Economy; Dr Anwar Mohammed Gargash, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs; Obaid Humaid Al Tayer, Minister of State for Financial Affairs; Reem Ibrahim Al Hashemi, Minister of State; Lt-General Musabbah Rashid Al Fattan, Director of Dubai Ruler’s Office;  Khalifa Saeed Sulaiman, Director General of Dubai Protocol and Guesthouse Department and Mohammed Sultan Al Suwaidi, UAE’s Ambassador in Manama. Source : Agencies