X XJustice The 16th Summit The 16th Summit, held in Muscat during December4-6, 1995, approved recommendations for establishment of a GCC power grid. It also approved recommendations for streamlining banking activitieswith a view to improve competitiveness of GCC banking institutions..

At this edition, Jamil Al Hujailan was named as GCC Secretary Generalsucceeding Fahim Al Qassimi who completed his term.

Politically, the Council discussed the Mideast peace process, the situationin Bosnia and Herzegovina, terrorism and freeing the Middle East fromweapons of mass destruction.

The 17th Summit The 17th Edition, held in Doha during December 7-9, 1996,focused on Iran's occupation of the UAE islands. It voiced concern overIran's failure to respond to repeated calls by the UAE, the GCC, the ArabLeague and the Arab Summit for a peaceful settlement. It denounced Iran'saggression as a flagrant violation of the UAE territorial integrity thatjeopardized the Region's security. It also voiced concern at Iran's deploymentof missiles in the GCC, particularly in the three islands, and its persistentendeavour to build up weapons of mass destruction and unconventional weaponsthat far exceeded its legitimate defence needs. On economy, the Councildecided to unify custom tariffs and establish a customs union. The Councilstressed that the Iraqi government were to blame for the ordeals and sufferingsof its people.

The 18th Summit The 18th Summit, held in Kuwait from December 20-22,approved recommendations by the GCC defence ministers on practical measuresto enhance inter-GCC military communication. It also approved recommendationsby Interior Ministers for facilitating flow of citizens and commodities.

It also gave the go-ahead for implementation of phase one of the GCC powergrid. On legislations, it ratified the Unified Civil Code and the UnifiedPenal Code, both derived from the Islamic Sharia. It welcomed effortsaimed at localization of jobs and facilitating flow of national labourbetween member states. On environment, the Council approved three regulationsfor wildlife preservation, handling of radioactive substances, and wastemanagement.

Politically, the Council reviewed Iraq's implementation of Security Councilresolutions, Iran's occupation of UAE islands, the Mideast peace process,terrorism, and elimination of weapons of mass destruction.

The 19th summit The 19th summit, held in Abu Dhabi between 7 and 9 November1998, saw an extensive international attendance with the list of guestparticipants including Nelson Mandela, former President of South Africa,Kofi Annan, Secretary General of the United Nations, Dr Esmat Abdul Maguid,former Secretary General of the Arab League and Izzeldin Laraki, formerSecretary General of the Organisation of Islamic Conference.

French President Jacques Chirac addressed the summit via satellite, praisingthe deep-rooted ties of friendship between the GCC countries and his countryand appreciating the role played by the council in international sphere.

The summit, dubbed 'the forum in preparation for the next millennium',tackled issues relating to bolstering cooperation between member countries.

It was decided during that summit to hold a consultation meeting, aheadof the forthcoming summit. The GCC leaders also gave the green light toformation of the advisory bureau for the GCC supreme Council which wasassigned with studying means to provide job opportunities to GCC citizensand to ease their movement in the member countries.

At the end of the summit, the "Abu Dhabi Declaration" was issued.

The document confirmed GCC's determination to enhance pan-Arab relationsin a way that will revive Arab solidarity and joint action.

The 20th summit Riyadh played host to the 20th summit between 27 and29 November 1999 during which, the GCC leaders agreed to establish customsunion and to implement a unified customs tariff.

The leaders also discussed regional situation and developments in Iraq,Iran, Middle East and the Palestinian cause.

The 'Riyadh Declaration' included a host of directives to enhance cooperationamong member countries.

The 21st summit Manama was the venue for the 21st summit, held between30 and 31 December 2000. The most highlighted event of that summit wasthe signing of joint defence agreement between the GCC countries.

The leaders agreed to allow GCC citizens to practice economic activitiesand to hold jobs in any member country. It has also approved recommendationsto study the demographic structure and the impact of foreign labour.

The 22nd summit The 22nd GCC summit, held in Muscat between 30 and December2001 drew its importance from being the first meeting for the GCC leadersafter the September 11 attacks and the anti-terrorism campaign waged bythe United States.

The summit's final communiqu? strongly condemned the attacks and expressedsupport to the international alliance to eliminate terrorism. The communiqu?called on scholars and intellectuals in the Islamic world to intensifyefforts aimed at acquainting the world with the Islamic values which promotetolerance, denounce violence and prohibit killing of people.

The summit reiterated UAE's sovereignty over its three islands of AbuMusa, Greater Tunb and Lesser Tunb, under Iranian occupation and extendedsupport to the measures being taken by the UAE to regain its sovereignty.

The leaders also agreed to Yemen's membership of the GCC Heaklth Ministers'Council, the GCC Arab Education Bureau and the Gulf Cup Football Tournament.

They also approved appointment of Abdul Rahman bin Hamad Al Attiyah asthe new GCC Secretary General, succeeding Jamil Al Hujailan.

The 23rd Summit The 23rd summit was held in Doha between 21 and 22 December2002.

In that summit, the leaders agreed to establish the GCC Customs Unionas of January 2003 and directed that GCC Common Market be establishedin the earliest possible time.

Among the issues discussed were the equal treatment to GCC citizens inall economic activities, the contingency plan for petroleum products andthe military cooperation.

The GCC leaders renewed their condemnation of terrorism in all its formsand reiterated their countries' firm stand as regards differentiationbetween terrorism and the legitimate right of oppressed people to struggleagainst occupation of their territories.

They also discussed situation in Iraq and Palestine and Iran's occupationof UAE three islands.

The 24th summit Held in Kuwait between 21 and 22 December 2003 and revieweda report on the steps taken to establish the common market, as well asa report on the timeline for the single GCC currency.

The Council also reviewed latest developments on the GCC economic relationswithinternational blocs.

The 25th summit Named 'Zayed Summit' and hosted by Bahrain between 20and 21 December 2004, the summit was held in tribute to the late SheikhZayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan in recognition of his pivotal role in the GCCprogress and to the services he rendered to the Arab and Islamic nations.

The summit reviewed preliminary studies on the feasibility of establishingan intra-GCC railways and the GCC power grid.

The leaders also reviewed a report on the smart card project which wouldact as a national identity for GCC citizens.

A number of unified laws in the agricultural and industrial fields wereratified, including the industrial regulation law for GCC countries.

The 'Manama Declaration', issued at the end of the summit, empahsisedthe GCC countries' desire to continue modernization drive.

An eventful quarter a century sums up the GCC achievements and testifiesto its role in fulfilling aspirations of its peoples.

The regularity and smoothness with which the GCC summits are held reflectthe member countries profound belief in the joint action and fraternalinterdependence among them to continue the march of success.