..:: India Strategic ::.. Foreign Affairs: GCC Summit in Abu Dhabi

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Editorial

GCC Summit in Abu Dhabi

Published : December 2010

Abu Dhabi. Leaders of the six Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries began their 31st summit Dec 6 to consolidate the cooperation they initiated in May 1981 to secure their oil-rich region.

The six nation grouping had held its first summit in the UAE capital of Abu Dhabi 29 years ago, inaugurated then by the highly respected Arab leader, UAE President Shaikh Zayed. This time, his son, President Shaikh Khalifa bin Zayed al Nahyan, inaugurated the summit and welcomed the leaders from neighbouring Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Kuwait.

Foreign Ministers of the six countries have already finalized the agenda for the summit, and it was considered by the leaders at a closed door meeting.

Terrorism, missile threat, security of their oil resources, and continued Iranian occupation of three UAE Islands that Teheran took on the eve of independence of United Arab Emirates in December 1971, was reported to be on the agenda.

UAE itself is known for its liberal and pragmatic approach in international relations with peace and security in the region as the hallmark of its foreign policy.

Participating in the summit are King Hamad Bin Isa Bin Salman Al Khalifa of Bahrain, Emir of Qatar Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, Emir of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, Second Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior of Saudi Arabia Prince Nayef bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, and Deputy Prime Minister for Cabinet Affairs of the Sultanate of Oman Sayyid Fahd bin Mahmoud Al Said.

Chairmanship of the GCC rotates periodically between all the six members, the last being Kuwait.

Dr Abdul Latif bin Rashid Al Zayani was inducted as the new GCC Secretary General, succeeding Mr Abdul Rahman bin Hamad Al Attiyah. Both are distinguished diplomats.

Pictues and inputs: Emirates News Agency, WAM