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

Source: Gulf Research Center (Read full story)

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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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3rd Global Entrepreneurship Summit Opens In Dubai

Source: Gulf Business (Read full story)

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The summit, in partnership with Entrepreneurial Ventures of Arabia, aims to bring the MENA region’s most prominent names in business together with SMEs and entrepreneurs that, as Barack Obama said in his pre-recorded message, “could be behind the next big private companies for their cities and their countries.” The majority of keynote speakers over the two day conference, and the business names in attendance, are from the United States or MENA region. HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum addressed the hundreds of attendees at the opening ceremony, as did HH Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, minister of foreign affairs.

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Qatar calls Quartet ‘failure,’ seeks Arab peace offer rethink

Source: Arab News (Read full story)

 Qatar called at an Arab League ministerial meeting yesterday for a rethink of an Arab offer of normal ties with Israel in return for its pullout from occupied land and branded the international Quartet a failure. “It is logical after 10 years to objectively reconsider the peace process, including the Arab initiative,” said Sheikh Hamad bin Jassem Al-Thani, the country’s prime minister. He called for a “thorough look into developments in the region and the world, and to decide carefully on our future steps and roadmap.” The League has proposed a normalization with the Jewish state in return for its pullout from occupied lands, notably the Palestinian territories.

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Pre-emptive Strike against Iran: Prelude to an Avoidable Disaster?

Source: Middle East Policy Council (Read full story)

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For an attack, a nuclear weapon has to be detonated at the intended target site. Since nuclear weapons are usually available in very limited numbers, this requires a reliable and accurate means of delivery. Transporting a nuclear weapon to the intended target by car, truck or ship is always possible. However, this is only a viable option for a first strike, comparable to a massive terror attack. Under this option, there is no credible second strike capability. Iran would not be able to fight a nuclear war. Furthermore, a governmentally sanctioned massive terrorist attack is also possible and much more easily managed than an operation using a nuclear weapon.² Therefore, it seems highly unlikely that a state would develop a nuclear weapon only for terror attacks by means of cars, trucks, and ships.

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Kuwaiti ruler reappoints PM, calls for new cabinet

Source: Reuters (Read full story)

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The December 1 election was the second this year in the OPEC state, where a series of assemblies have collapsed due to a long-running power struggle between the parliament and the cabinet, in which the emir’s relatives hold the top posts.

While the new parliament is expected to be more cooperative with the government than its predecessor because of the opposition boycott, the election proved divisive. Turnout was around 40 percent, the lowest ever in Kuwait and the opposition movement, made up of youth activists and opposition politicians, has promised more protests after staging a march of tens of thousands on November 30.

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Doha climate talks: Qatar may ask select ministers to take lead in resolving prickly issues

Source: The Economic Times (Read full story)

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Qatar, sources said, was likely to use the Cancun method of operation again at Doha and ask two ministers each – one from the developed countries and another from the developing world – to kick-start the talks around new text starting December 5.

Whether Qatar, which has so far held its cards close to its chests, would restrict countries that participate in these dialogues remains unclear the sources explained. But, they said, the level of transparency would take a dip for sure with new text emerging from out of the blue and the drafts already under negotiations falling aside.

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