AS part of the official media delegation from Oman to the 30th GCC summit held in Kuwait on Dec. 14 and 15, I followed the proceedings and decisions with keen interest. I can say with full confidence that the summit resolutions will give a new impetus to the joint GCC action at political, economic and security levels.

The summit raised four fundamental issues that have resonance to the daily lives of the citizens of the Gulf states, viz. the concept of collective Gulf security, the importance of joint action, the necessity for improving ties among the GCC states and the joint resolve to tackle with a positive attitude the challenges that confront the Gulf countries.

All the decisions that were made at the summit were intended to further cement the camaraderie and brotherly relations among the Gulf states by the establishment of common projects and communication channels across borders.

The summit launched the much-anticipated common power grid project and decided to forge ahead with the pan-Gulf rail network, which is a dream project for Gulf citizens. To carry out the project, the GCC Transport and Communications Committee was commissioned to take all required steps in order to fast track it. Such projects will, no doubt, help smooth the path to GCC citizenship. We hope to see such new, vital development projects announced at every Gulf summit with the aim of further solidifying the bond of Gulf brotherhood and achieving common aspirations.

The communiqué at the conclusion of the summit expressed complete solidarity with Saudi Arabia against any threat to its land, stating that any threat to its security and stability would be deemed as a threat to all Gulf countries. The communiqué sought to stress the security and stability of Yemen and reaffirmed the sovereignty of the UAE over the disputed Abu Musa and Tunb Islands.

In accordance with the established stance of the GCC on Arab causes, the final declaration condemned the atrocious Israeli practices in the occupied Palestinian lands. It called upon the Israeli government to lift the unjust and crippling siege of the Palestinian people, halt the settlement activity in occupied territories and pull down the racist wall that militates against any hope of peaceful coexistence. The final declaration noted that a fair and comprehensive peace is contingent upon total withdrawal of Israel from the Arab lands it occupied in 1967.

The communiqué also denounced terrorism in all its forms and championed the stability of Iraq, Sudan and Somalia.

The decision taken by the GCC leaders on the establishment of a Rapid Joint Force to replace the Al-Jazeera Shield Force is hugely significant and is evidence of their perceptions of various threats and challenges faced by states of the region. This will be something of an “interventionist” force aimed at tackling such threats more efficiently and within a joint framework.

On the economic front, the summit leaders praised the efforts put in by the member states in fending off the global financial crisis. They observed that this testified to the inherent strength of the Gulf economies as they performed true to expectations. The success of the Gulf economies in bucking the detrimental effects of the global meltdown was put down to the wise policies and efficient steps adopted by the respective Gulf states, the leaders noted.

The myriad achievements notched up by the GCC states in all fields during their joint march ever since the establishment of the council in 1981, are indeed remarkable and a matter of pride for Gulf citizens. However, the true strength lies in the ability to maintain and further hasten the pace of progress and prosperity.

Hence, the GCC countries need to keep abreast of the latest technological trends and political and economic developments in the light of the constant flurry of events and developments taking place at the regional and global levels on a daily basis. Such preparedness and efforts will certainly enable the GCC to continue its achievements and bring to reality the aspirations and ambitions of Gulf citizens.

— Essa bin Mohammed Al Zedjali is editor in chief of Times of Oman.