DUBAI, 19 December 2002 — King Hamad of Bahrain yesterday announced that he was staying away from the GCC summit in Qatar. Like Saudi Arabia, Bahrain is also sending its foreign minister to the decision-making Gulf Cooperation Council talks.
Omani sources said the attendance of Sultan Qaboos was also in doubt. With the Emir of Kuwait and the UAE president both too frail to travel, the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Hamad ibnn Khalifa Al-Thani, may find himself as the sole leader present.
The United Arab Emirates is sending Vice President, Prime Minister and Dubai ruler Sheikh Maktoum ibn Rashed Al-Maktoum and Kuwait its Foreign Minister Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmed Al-Sabah, diplomats said.
GCC Secretary-General Abdul Rahman Al-Attiya, who is Qatari, earlier assured AFP the Gulf leaders would attend.
The GCC secretary-general described the summit as "very important" amid the threat of war on Iraq and the intractable Israeli-Palestinian conflict, as well as vital economic issues such as a GCC customs union due to start in January.
