Gulf in the News – December 28, 2012

Praise for the UAE security agencies

The GCC Secretary-General commended the UAE security agencies for their work in arresting an alleged cell of terrorists. The group of Saudi and UAE citizens were accused of plotting attacks against the UAE and neighbouring countries. Dr Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani said their competence and alertness helped to thwart attempts to subvert the security and stability of countries in the region, according to Bahrain’s state news agency, BNA. The arrests, which were carried out on Wednesday, had been in co-ordination with security forces in Saudi Arabia. Dr Al Zayani hailed the security cooperation between the GCC member states, stressing the importance of coordination to stave off any attempts to destabilise the region.

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Gulf in the News – 33rd GCC Summit Roundup

33rd GCC Summit concludes in the Kingdom of Bahrain

Source: Bahrain News Agency (Read full story)

The Supreme Council reviewed the reports and recommendations of follow up submitted from the Ministerial Council aimed to boost full GCC citizenship as part of GCC leaders’ keenness on boosting mutual cooperation.

The Supreme Council explored regional and international political issues and passed resolutions on mutual GCC action regarding article (3) of economic agreement for the purpose of boosting GCC citizenship in various spheres and deepening economic integration between GCC-member states and also discussed the economic situation in the GCC states and expressed delight at the remarkable growth and development in various sectors .

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Gulf in the News – December 21, 2012

Yemen’s president restructures armed forces

Source: CNN International (Read full story)

“We are working towards a unified army under a unified leadership, and this needs to take place now,” the presidential aide said, asking to remain anonymous due to the sensitivity of the issue.

The changes came as protests continued in front of Hadi’s residence. Demonstrators said they wouldn’t participate in the upcoming National Dialogue Conference unless Saleh’s relatives and loyalists who hold key military and security posts are removed. Yemeni officials have been hoping all the political factions in the country would meet at the conference.

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GCC Information for Reference

As the 33rd Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Ministerial and Heads of State Summit approaches on December 24-25, 2012 in Manama, Bahrain, the Arabia, the Gulf, and the GCC Blog presents for reference a listing of GCC-related posts from the past several months.

Gulf in the News – December 19, 2012

GCC Union may be delayed…

Source: Gulf Daily News (Read full story)

Differences  of opinion on the formation of a Gulf Union – which would supersede the existing GCC and bring member states even closer together – mean the project will not happen overnight, Foreign Minister Shaikh Khalid bin Ahmed Al Khalifa told MPs yesterday. The plan was first mooted by Saudi monarch King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud at the GCC Summit in Riyadh last December. Talks have already taken place on increased military, economic, political and security ties, Shaikh Khalid said as he appeared in parliament.

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The US‐GCC Relationship

In the past half century, no Arab sub-regional inter-state organization has been as successful as the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), established in May 1981. Next week, Bahrain will host the 33rd GCC Ministerial and Heads of State Summit in Manama (December 24-25, 2012). In an effort to explore how the GCC and its six member-countries (Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE) achieved what they have accomplished, the Arabia, the Gulf, and the GCC Blog presents a 2006 article from Dr. John Duke Anthony, Founding President and CEO of the National Council on U.S.-Arab Relations and the only American to have been invited to each of the GCC’s Ministerial and Heads of State Summits since the GCC’s inception, which examines some of the dynamics surrounding the GCC’s formation and strategic position.

 

Click to access 2006.12.15-JDA-US-GCC%20Relations.pdf

 FURTHER READING:

Gulf in the News – December 17, 2012

Key regional issues top agenda of GCC summit

 Source: Arab News (Read full story)

 Key regional developments, particularly the intransigent attitude of Syria, Iran and Israel, will top the agenda of the summit of the six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) in Bahrain next week. The ministerial council of the GCC has finalized the summit agenda, which is more focused on regional issues, closer defense cooperation, security threats, commercial cooperation and above all citizens’ welfare. “Bahrain is gearing up to host the 33rd GCC summit on Dec. 24,” said Saleem S. A. Al-Alwi, a spokesman of the GCC General Secretariat, here yesterday. He said that there were “many challenges” facing the GCC today. It is therefore important for this regional bloc to address the major issues and the obstacles that it is facing, he added.

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Gulf in the News – December 14, 2012

A Union in Danger: Where the GCC is Headed is Increasingly Questionable

Source: Gulf Research Center (Read full story)

Even if the GCC leaders wanted to move forward with a closer union, under current circumstances the organization might not survive if pressed for true integration. Without a doubt, with the current ideas being put forward, the GCC would be stepping on new and unknown territory. The deeper concern is that both horizontal (geographical expansion) and vertical (devolution of power) extension of the GCC would ultimately lead to the group’s disintegration given that the present structure as it exists will not be able to cope with such changes. Institutionally, the GCC remains weak and underdeveloped.

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