9/6/2010Kuwaiti foreign minister affirms significance of GCC meetings in Jeddah
KUWAIT, Meetings of GCC ministers of foreign, finance and commerce affairs, due to be held in the Saudi port city of Jeddah later on Monday, would be of paramount significance for they would be in line with desire of the GCC leaders to accomplish the GCC economic integration, the Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister said.
Sheikh Dr. Mohammad Sabah Al-Salem Al-Sabah, speaking to reporters upon his departure to Jeddah, along with Minister of Finance Mustafa Al-Shimali and Minister of Commerce Ahmad Al-Haroun, to take part in the meetings, said the conferees would discuss obstacles facing the planned common custom union, means of speeding up its establishment, and economic ties of the GCC countries with states and blocs of the world, namely the European Union.
The deputy premier and foreign minister, who would chair the 116th session of the GCC Ministerial Council, said the meeting of the foreign ministers of the member states would tackle various issues, namely scheduled meetings of the United Nations General Assembly, due in two weeks, in terms of some issues that concern the Gulf states, namely the Middle East peace process and the direct negotiations between the Israelis and the Palestinians. He indicated that the conferees would discuss prospected coordination among the GCC states at the forecast UN meetings.
The foreign ministers of the GCC will hold meetings, at quarters of the UN, with their counterparts of the US and the European group, Sheikh Mohammad added.
Next month will witness start of the strategic dialogue between Kuwait and Russia, in addition to dialogue between the GCC states and China, as well as with Turkey, he said, noting that these meetings would be held in Kuwait.
In response to a question whether the discovery of terrorist cells in Bahrain posed a threat to the Gulf region, he affirmed that the GCC states would deal with such cases firmly and decisively, indicating at the official stance of solidarity declared by the State of Kuwait toward the leadership of Bahrain in this respect.
"We are aware that there are certain groups that desire to undermine the security in the region and we will discuss this question at the meeting," Sheikh Mohammad said.
Asked about a prospected visit by the Qatari Amir to Saudi Arabia for reported mediation between Riyadh and Tehran, and whether Kuwait would play a role at this level, the foreign minister refrained from delving into details regarding what he termed as such "blessed meetings." For his part, Al-Shimali affirmed significance of the custom union, saying "there is great concern for pressing ahead on this path ... however certain things need to be amended," adding that the ministers would hold serious talks on such issues.
Minister Al-Haroun said the conferees would discuss various issues such as cancelling the sponsorhip of workers and matters related to the industries.
Jeddah will host meetings of the 116th session of the GCC ministerial council along with a joint meeting of the GCC's ministers of industry, commerce, economy and finance.
Financial and economy observers are keen to see the outcome of such meetings with speculations regarding the approval and completion of requirements for the joint GCC customs union, scheduled in 2011.
Among other issues to be tackled during the meetings are the GCC customs union, the opening of negotiations with the World Trade Organization (WTO) to become recognized as a unified customs union which would be subject to GCC procedures in force between the organizing states.
The senior officials will also attempt to finalize a mechanism used for joint custom tariffs collection, including distribution of tariffs and solutions to duties of customs protection in member states, particularly to some states which provide full customs protections and in turn ease the transfer of goods among member states.
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