ABU DHABI, 19 December 2005 — Gulf Cooperation Council leaders began their two-day summit here yesterday with a call for speeding up measures to strengthen cooperation among the six member countries in all domains.
“What has been accomplished so far does not meet our ambitions and the expectations of our people, who are demanding that we be more resolute and less argumentative,” said UAE President Sheikh Khalifa ibn Zayed Al-Nahayan in his opening speech.
Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah is leading the Kingdom’s delegation to the summit, which is being attended by all heads of GCC states, with the exception of Kuwait’s Sheikh Jaber, who is represented by Prime Minister Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah.
GCC Secretary-General Abdul Rahman Al-Attiya said the GCC does not fear Iran’s nuclear program, as long as it is for peaceful applications. “If it is not for peaceful applications, then the program becomes unjustified and the issue cannot be neglected,” he said.
He said the GCC states have confidence in Iran, “but we do not see Iranian nuclear reactor as a cause of danger and instability to the region.” “We expect Iran to be rational in dealing with the nuclear issue, that it meets peaceful purposes without inflicting damage on its neighbors,” he added.
He urged superpower member countries in the UN Security Council to force Israel to subject its nuclear plants for inspection, so as not to pose a threat to the stability and security of the region. Attiya said a GCC initiative would be announced soon calling for conclusion of an agreement between the GCC countries and each of Iran, Iraq and Yemen to ensure a region free from nuclear weapons and weapons of mass destruction.
On the question of normalization of relations with Israel, Attiya pointed out that “all Arab countries are adherent to Arab League’s resolutions.”
He said he was not aware of any differences in this respect among the countries of the region. Attiya refuted suggestions that the GCC countries would mediate between the US and Iran on the nuclear issue, saying the US has not asked for GCC mediation.
The slow pace of economic integration among GCC states, political reform, and matters of regional instability including the worsening situation in Iraq and tense Syrian-Lebanese relations are expected to top the agenda at the summit, which is named after King Fahd in honor of the late leader’s efforts in strengthening the 25-year-old organization. “Despite our achievements, we must not forget that the nature of the challenges has changed, demanding that we exert more efforts to improve our nations,” said Sheikh Khalifa.
“We must focus on creating the educated and moderate Gulf citizen, because this will guarantee our stability and prosperity.”
“Our peoples have high expectations from us, our achievements fall short of their hopes and aspirations, we have a great responsibility toward our peoples and have to work to build a strong partnership and cooperation to achieve the goals for which the Gulf Cooperation Council was established,” Sheikh Khalifa said.
More regional integration is one of the main conditions set by the European Union for a free trade agreement with the GCC. “We must accelerate our unity and cooperation in all domains,” said Bahrain’s King Hamad upon arrival in Abu Dhabi.
The summit is likely to endorse a proposal from King Abdullah on setting up an international counterterrorism center.
