December 03, 2010
Regional security, development to feature in GCC summit
Leaders of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries are set to convene next week in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) capital Abu Dhabi, where the bloc was founded about 30 years ago.
The leaders are expected to discuss a wide range of issues concerning regional security and development at the upcoming 31st GCC summit, slated for Dec. 6-7.
SECURITY TOP CONCERN
At the summit, the six GCC states -- Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates -- are expected to reiterate the regional security as a top policy priority, which has been a major concern to them since the establishment of the GCC in May 1981.
Gulf states are facing security challenges in all directions, with Iraq's government in transition and recurrent violence, Yemen 's uphill battle against terrorism, and Iran's nuclear issues.
The agenda of the GCC foreign ministers meeting, held in Abu Dhabi on Nov. 12, indicated that some hot issues are likely to be touched upon at the summit.
The Israeli-Palestinian peace talks, the dispute between Iran and UAE over three islands in the Gulf, developments in Lebanon, Iraq, Sudan and Somalia, are expected to dominate the summit.
The UAE's dispute with Iran over three Gulf islands located near shipping lanes has rumbled on for three decades, with little sign of turning into armed conflicts, but both sides remain sensitive on the issue.
The islands, Abu Musa and the Greater and Lesser Tunbs, are controlled by Iran but claimed by the UAE with broad Arab backing. The UAE ties with Iran have been strained since Iran installed maritime offices on one of the islands in 2008.
Iran's nuclear file, a frequent item on the agenda of GCC summit, will also be presented before the leaders.
The GCC summit is expected to reiterate their call on Tehran to comply with international principles in regard to its nuclear issue to prevent the occurrence of any negative consequence, which might affect its neighboring GCC countries.
http://www.einnews.com/news.php?xid=dFE8V5Itmg0xOfbM
Regional security, development to feature in GCC summit
Leaders of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries are set to convene next week in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) capital Abu Dhabi, where the bloc was founded about 30 years ago.
The leaders are expected to discuss a wide range of issues concerning regional security and development at the upcoming 31st GCC summit, slated for Dec. 6-7.
SECURITY TOP CONCERN
At the summit, the six GCC states -- Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates -- are expected to reiterate the regional security as a top policy priority, which has been a major concern to them since the establishment of the GCC in May 1981.
Gulf states are facing security challenges in all directions, with Iraq's government in transition and recurrent violence, Yemen 's uphill battle against terrorism, and Iran's nuclear issues.
The agenda of the GCC foreign ministers meeting, held in Abu Dhabi on Nov. 12, indicated that some hot issues are likely to be touched upon at the summit.
The Israeli-Palestinian peace talks, the dispute between Iran and UAE over three islands in the Gulf, developments in Lebanon, Iraq, Sudan and Somalia, are expected to dominate the summit.
The UAE's dispute with Iran over three Gulf islands located near shipping lanes has rumbled on for three decades, with little sign of turning into armed conflicts, but both sides remain sensitive on the issue.
The islands, Abu Musa and the Greater and Lesser Tunbs, are controlled by Iran but claimed by the UAE with broad Arab backing. The UAE ties with Iran have been strained since Iran installed maritime offices on one of the islands in 2008.
Iran's nuclear file, a frequent item on the agenda of GCC summit, will also be presented before the leaders.
The GCC summit is expected to reiterate their call on Tehran to comply with international principles in regard to its nuclear issue to prevent the occurrence of any negative consequence, which might affect its neighboring GCC countries.
http://www.einnews.com/news.php?xid=dFE8V5Itmg0xOfbM
