
(Manama) – The 33rd annual summit of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) held in Manama called for closer economic integration and unity. His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa of Bahrain opening the summit called for the Gulf Cooperation Council to provide “a security umbrella for its peoples” and urged “economic complementarity” between its six member states i.e. Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, the UAE and Saudi Arabia.
The UAE delegation to the two-day summit was led by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. Ahead of the opening ceremony, Sheikh Mohammed held talks with GCC leaders on the current regional situation and agenda of the summit.
GCC also called for humanitarian aid for Syrian civilians and urged Iran to reach a peaceful resolution of issues with neighbours, including over three occupied UAE islands of Abu Musa and Greater and Lesser Tunbs.