Joint action will maintain stability

Chairmanship of UAE President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan of the 31st GCC Summit on December 6-7 in Abu Dhabi provides the success to the major gathering, GCC Secretary General Abdul Rahman bin Hamad Al Attiyah affirmed on Monday.

''Sheikh Khalifa's management of the summit will add many achievements that contribute to realising aspirations of the GCC citizen for security, stability and economic integration among member states,'' Al Attiyah said on the eve of the summit.

''The Abu Dhabi summit is being convened at a critical time when the pace is being accelerated to boost joint GCC action and maintain security and stability,'' he stated on the fringe of the opening of the GCC exhibition which is being staged on parallel of the summit.

''The summit, which comes after 30 years of Abu Dhabi hosting the first founding meeting, will provide a qualitative leap in the joint GCC action and will add several achievements in realisation of the GCC customs union, common market, single currency and economic citizenship,' he indicated.

He added that the summit will pass a host of important strategies concerning the GCC power and rail grids and peaceful use of nuclear energy.

''The summit will approve a resolution allowing companies to open branches in member states, a move that is expected to deepen economic citizenship and improve joint investment climate,' he disclosed.

Asked about the return of the UAE and Oman to the GCC monetary union as the first country is the second largest economy in the Gulf region, Al Attiya said ''The UAE's role is important for the GCC joint action. On Oman’s return, he added Muscat holds the view that it would only join the union when it is ready for that step.

On Qatar's winning the rights to host the FIFA World Cup 2022, the GCC chief said, ''It is a victory for Qatar as well as for the Arab and Muslim World. It will add positive air to the summit and provide a catalyst for us to accomplish more victories at regional and international levels.”
Wam