Speaking to Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) on the occasion of the GCC’s 26th anniversary, coinciding tomorrow, the professors agreed that the council was successful in placing a joint vision for foreign relations, respecting the sovereignty of states, and adopting dialogue as a means to resolve conflicts.
Dr. Abdulrida Asiri said the GCC was a relatively new bloc when compared to international organizations, adding that since its inception, political storms had been shaking the region, starting from the Iran-Iraq war in the 1980s, to the invasion of Kuwait in 1990, and finally the liberation of Iraq in 2003.
Great coordination takes place between the GCC member states, he said, noting the many aspects they had in common and the joint vision they shared on critical issues.
Moreover, he said the council allowed for dealing with other political and economic blocks, such as in the case of negotiating with the European Union (EU) over a joint market and with economic organizations in Asia and South America.
On her part, Dr. Nada Al-Mutawa said the GCC’s short history was full of achievements and that the member states based their efforts on unified visions and common interests.
She said coordination included efforts to make the Middle East a region that was free of all weapons of mass destruction (WMDs) and calling for activate implementation of the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).
Talks between the GCC and Iran are proof of the council’s commitment to diplomacy and dialogue as a means to resolving the Iranian nuclear crisis, she said.
The professor noted the GCC’s support for the Makkah Agreement for stopping fighting among Palestinian factions, and its keenness for instilling peace and security in Iraq while refraining from interference in its internal affairs.
The GCC was founded on May 25, 1981, and groups Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, the UAE, and Oman.
