ID :
184367
Wed, 05/25/2011 - 14:07
Auther :

GCC marks 30 years of successful joint action

ABU DHABI, May 25 (KUNA) -- The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) celebrates the 30th anniversary of its establishment Wednesday.
The Council came into being on May 25, 1981 in Abu Dhabi, following a realization within its member states of the need to forge unity of purpose, destiny, and interest in the face of common challenges.
In the past 30 years, it has passed through several critical junctures and has taken giant strides on the road to unity and solidarity. During these years, it has been able to preserve its existence and has cemented its presence on the regional and international arenas.
The GCC has succeeded in tackling these tough challenges due to collective efforts and a coherent vision which have contributed to greater public faith in the union. The council has been an important s ource of power for its member nations and a framework that has cemented ties among its people.
GCC Secretary General Abdullatif Al-Zayyani described the pivotal position that the council occupies on regional and international arenas when he reiterated that the GCC, in its third decade of existence, has become an effective organization with high credibility and considerable influence.
The GCCs success hasnt come out of a vacuum but has been due to several underlying factors. The first has been the wise and visionary leadership of its member states and their great ability to grasp domestic and external changes and their strong belief in the importance of Gulf solidarity as a basic guarantee to achieve common objectives.
Another important factor has been the significant steps taken by the GCC to achieve economic integration in the region. The notable achievements in this regard have been the implementation of GCC Customs Union in 2003 and the GCC common market in 2008, besides other steps of this kind.
The third factor has been building a sense of GCCs collective security and its effectiveness in confronting the sources of danger that threaten the security and stability of the region. The recent decision to send the Peninsula Shield troops to Bahrain to help maintain stability and thwart any bid to undermine social harmony indicates that the joint GCC action has succeeded in applying the concept of collective security.
Yet another factor has been the strong GCC presence on the international arena because of its moderate policies, successful development experience and political and social stability in a region full of turbulence. This adds to the GCCs strength and effectiveness as a regional organization which derives its power from the strength of its members.
Despite all the great achievements made by the GCC during the last 30 years at various levels, it aspires to achieve more. Its march of progress is being steered by the wis dom of its leadership and the faith of its people who constantly seek greater integration, convergence and unity

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