Al-Zayani: Gulf leaders keen on reaching full integration

Two days ahead of the Kuwait-hosted 34th Gulf Cooperation Council Summit, the Secretary General of the pan-Gulf council Abdulateef Al-Zayani underscored that the Gulf leaders were eager to achieve full integration despite difficulties. "The idea of the Gulf Union is based on the unity of the Gulf states and that is reflected in the Saudi King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz' initiative which calls for moving from the stage of cooperation to full integration into one entity," the GCC Chief said in an interview with Kuwait TV to be aired Sunday. "The GCC leaders welcomed the Saudi union initiative and Consultations are going on between countries to achieving the union." He added that the relevant studies have been conducted and referred to the Supreme Council and Ministerial Council of the GCC member states "to take appropriate decisions to materialize article four of the charter of the GCC council." The Fourth Article of GCC charter states that "the basic objectives of the Cooperation Council are: To effect coordination, integration and inter-connection between Member States in all fields in order to achieve unity between them and to deepen and strengthen relations, links and areas of cooperation now prevailing between their peoples in various fields." He pointed out that the Gulf leaders seek to optimize mutual cooperation in different domains especially the politics, economy, defense and security. With regard to economic relations, Al-Zayani asserted that "the Gulf countries are moving steadily towards reaching the economic integration." He added Gulf leaders and officials are exerting efforts to get international recognition of the Gulf Customs Union as well as to lunch a single Gulf currency. He underlined the GCC countries need to diversify its economy and energy sources. Al-Zayani commended the high level of coordination among armed forces of the Gulf countries with emphasis on defensive integration. "The military integration is key to Gulf leaders," he said, hinting that important resolutions are expected to be passed in the upcoming summit to serve the Gulf security. On foreign policy coordination, the GCC chief said "the Gulf countries and their leaders are committed to basic principles of not interfering in others' affairs, maintaining good neighborliness, retaining dialogue to addressing conflicts, clearing the region from weapons of mass destruction (WMD)." Al-Zayani pointed out that the youth and women empowerment issues top the priorities of the Gulf leaders. "The GCC leaders are keen on honoring aspirations of their people, to achieve prosperity of region and people. The interests of Gulf citizens are core of the GCC leaders' discussions." He went on to say that aiming to achieve sustainable development, progress and prosperity for their countries, the Gulf leaders pay great attention to human development, particularly youth who make up 65 percent of Gulf population. "The GCC leaders are keen on communicating with the youth," he said. In this regard, Al-Zayani lauded the recently held Gulf youth conference in the Saudi capital of Riyadh which discussed in details the aspired role of youth in the development of the society. He also spoke highly about the great contribution of Gulf women in the development process. On Syrian conflict, Al-Zayani expressed hopes the planned second Geneva II conference on Syria peace would end up with actions to resolve the conflict in Syria peacefully to end the bloodshed and meet the aspirations of Syrian people. "We hope Geneva II would be based on final communique of Geneva I," he said. On Iran nuclear agreement with the West, Al-Zayani said the GCC welcomes any step or effort that meant to uphold security and stability of the region. He applauded the positive developments in the Yemeni political scene, particularly regarding the implementation of the Gulf-brokered power-transition deal in Yemen. "Conditions in Yemen were ripe and the Yemeni people contributed to implementing the GCC initiative. Yemen will emerge stronger," he said. The Geneva Declaration on Syria on June 30, 2012 called for an immediate cessation of violence in all its forms and a political transition that meets the legitimate aspirations of the Syrian people. His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah will inaugurate the upcoming 34th Summit of the Supreme Council of the Gulf Cooperation Council which will con convene in Kuwait between December 10-11. The Supreme Council of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) is the highest authority of the organization. It is composed of the heads of the member-states. Its presidency rotates periodically among the member states in alphabetical order. It meets in an ordinary session each year. Extraordinary sessions may be convened at the request of any one member-state seconded by another member state. To be valid a meeting must be attended by two-thirds of the member-states. Each member state has one vote. Resolutions in substantive matters are carried by unanimous approval of participating member states in the voting. However, decisions on procedural matters are taken by the vote of the majority of the Supreme Council. The GCC is a political and economic alliance of six Gulf countries: Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, and Oman. The GCC was established in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in May 1981. The purpose of the GCC is to achieve unity among its members based on their common objectives and their similar political and cultural identities, which are rooted in Islamic beliefs.