ABU DHABI: The Emir H H Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani yesterday urged the GCC states the need to pool efforts through joint consolidated action in various spheres to be able to 'face the grave challenges confronting us with a view to consolidating security and stability for our countries and for our region'.
Leading Qatar's delegation to the 26th GCC Supreme Council Summit, which opened here yesterday, the Emir saluted all the GCC leaders participating in the summit hoping that the meeting would contribute to the enhancement of the GCC cooperation drive to achieve hopes and aspirations of the people.
The Emir was greeted on arrival at the Abu Dhabi International Airport by the UAE President H H Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
The Emir is accompanied by an official delegation including First Deputy Premier and Foreign Minister H E Sheikh Hamad bin Jassem bin Jabor Al Thani, H E Sheikh Jassem bin Khalifa bin Hamad Al Thani, Minister of State H E Abdullah bin Khalifa Al Attiyah, Finance Minister H E Yousuf Hussein Kamal, Minister of State H E Sheikh Hamad bin Nasser Al Thani, Chairman of Qatar Radio and Television Corporation H E Sheikh Hamad bin Thamer Al Thani, Chief of the Emiri Diwan H E Sheikh Abdulrahman bin Saud Al Thani, Secretary of the Emir for Follow-Up Affairs H E Saad bin Mohamed Al Rumehi, Director of the office of the First Deputy Premier And Foreign Minister H E Sheikh Jabor bin Yousef Al Thani, Assistant Foreign Minister H E Saif Muqaadam Al Bouenein, Qatar's ambassador to the UAE H E Abdullah bin Mohamed Al Othman, and Assistant Director of International Organisations, Conferences and Agreements at the Foreign Ministry H E Sheikha Al Mayyasa bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani.
The UAE President, in his opening remarks at the summit, called for more action and less talk. "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," he said.
All heads of GCC states attended the opening, with the exception of the Emir of Kuwait H H Sheikh Jaber Al Ahmad Al Sabah, who is being represented by Prime Minister Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmad Al Sabah.
The slow pace of economic integration among GCC states, political reform, and matters of regional instability ranging from dispute over Iran's nuclear plans, to the situation in Iraq and to deteriorating Syrian-Lebanese relations are expected to top the leaders' agenda at the summit, dubbed "Fahd's summit" in tribute to the late Saudi king.
"Despite our achievements, we must not forget that the nature of the challenges have changed, demanding that we exert more effort 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."
The leaders, alarmed at Iran's nuclear ambitions, examined proposals for a nuclear-free zone in the region. Delegates said Syria's standoff with the United Nations over the killing of former Lebanese premier Rafiq Al Hariri was also discussed during the meeting. The GCC leaders are expected to issue a strongly worded statement urging Damascus to fully cooperate with the UN investigation into Hariri's death.
GCC Secretary-General Abdulrahman Al Attiya said the leaders were very worried about Iran's nuclear ambitions. "We trust Iran but we don't want to see an Iranian nuclear plant which is closer in distance to our Gulf shores than to Tehran causing us danger and damage."
Attiya had said one of the proposals on the agenda was for a deal to be brokered between Iran and neighbouring GCC states to make the region nuclear-free. "As Iranian officials say the programme is for peaceful purposes, why can't an agreement come into effect between all countries concerned and which could include Iraq and Yemen in the future? This will pave the way for a Middle East agreement which Israel could eventually become part of," he said. "This will prompt the international community to press Israel to open its (nuclear sites) for inspection."
© The Peninsula 2005
