GCC FMs and US discuss Strategic Cooperation

Source: Khaleej Times (Read full story)

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The statement included the following points regarding the strategic cooperation between the two sides:

Commitment of both sides in the light of the challenges facing the region to promote political, military, security and economic cooperation between them in order to maintain peace, security, stability and prosperity in the Gulf region and the Middle East and to face the threats against the territory of the GCC countries and maritime security in the Gulf region.

The two sides expressed their deep concern over the continuing Iranian intervention in the internal affairs of the Gulf Cooperation Council and called on Iran to respect international principles in this area.

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Saleh Resists Retirement in Yemen, Threatening Transition

Source: Bloomberg. com (Read full story)

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Saleh’s political encore may undermine the Saudi Arabia- and U.S.-backed plan for stabilizing Yemen, which has been used by al-Qaeda as a base for attacks on both countries, and reviving the poorest Middle Eastern economy. The rift in the army between supporters of the ex-president and his successor, Abdurabuh Mansur Hadi, risks a revival of last year’s violence, when street protests escalated into a near-civil war on the doorstep of the world’s biggest oil exporter. “He is trying to keep his family, friends and allies in power,” said Khalid al-Dakhil, a professor of political science at King Saud University in Riyadh. “He has a huge social, economic and political network all over Yemen and wants to prove that he isn’t out of the picture. He is very clever.”

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Government to recommend dissolving Assembly

Source: Kuwait Times (Read full story)

In a surprising move, Shiite MP Faisal Al-Duwaisan yesterday filed a request to grill Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah whose government is expected to recommend to HH the Amir today to dissolve the 2009 National Assembly. Duwaisan charged in his grilling that the prime minister has violated his constitutional authority, bowed to pressure from corrupt forces and conspired against the Assembly. For the grilling to be debated, the Assembly must meet and since it was reinstated in a landmark court ruling on June 20, the 2009 Assembly has failed to meet and speaker Jassem Al-Khorafi has written to HH the Amir about the situation.

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