The GCC marks its 42nd anniversary

The 42nd anniversary of foundation of the Arab Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) provides a moment for its member states to consider the progress made in achieving the goals of the GCC as set out in its Articles of Association: consolidating economic and political cooperation, enhancing regional development and establishing stronger ties among member states.

 

The establishment of the GCC on May 25th, 1981 took place in exceptional circumstances arising from regional tensions that posed political, security and economic challenges to the countries of the region.

This prompted the GCC states to unite their efforts to address these challenges and so cement cooperation, enhance economic, political and security integration, and realise stability.

Besides achieving coordination, integration and interdependence among member states, the Articles of Association stress the need to boost ties and establish similar regulations in economic, financial, commercial, customs and transportation fields. The Articles call for cooperation between member states in a wide range of areas: educational, cultural, social, health, media, tourism, legislation, tourism, legal, technical, scientific and industrial.

They also call for measures to expand cooperation in the fields of industry, mining, agriculture, water and livestock resources, as well as the establishment of research centres and encouraging private sector cooperation.

Oman's Foreign Minister, Sayyid Badr Albusaidi, observed that, on this anniversary, the peoples of the GCC countries should recall with great pride the foundation of the Council in 1981 and the way it has contributed to the progress towards prosperity, security and stability.

 

Sayyid Badr said: “In his first speech after assuming the reins of power, His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik affirmed his strong backing to the GCC.”

He quoted His Majesty as saying, “We will continue joining hands with our brethren, leaders of the Gulf Cooperation Council states, to contribute to the progress made in the march of cooperation, realise the aspirations of our peoples and upscale the GCC accomplishments.”

Sayyid Badr said the 42nd GCC anniversary, is a good moment to highlight the GCC’s remarkable achievements  in its member states in all fields.

“This gives us all more confidence and the will to move forward with the progress of cooperation that serves the interests of its citizens.”

Sayyid Badr stressed that the welfare of the its citizens is the cornerstone of the GCC’s comprehensive development efforts and the key purpose of decisions made by GCC leaders.

Sayyid Badr explained that the GCC current session, which is chaired by the Sultanate of Oman, is inspired by the directives of the GCC leaders, aimed at preserving the gains made in the past four decades, maintaining security and stability in the region and contemplating further economic integration with all its programmes, projects and goals.

Idris Abdul Rahman Al Khanjari, Oman's Permanent Representative to the United Nations and International Organisations in Geneva, said that the 42nd anniversary of the establishment of the GCC was a good time to appreciate the bonds of cooperation built between its member states over the past four decades.

He said that the GCC countries have achieved remarkable progress in various fields, while at the same time enhancing a spirit of solidarity. He pointed out that this should serve as a source of inspiration for all the GCC countries to put their economic and human resources to the service of their peoples, while also promoting the regional and international status of the Cooperation Council.

 

Al Khanjari said that as chair of the current GCC session, Oman is playing an important role in promoting joint Gulf action and highlighting the GCC’s presence in the international arena. He added that this enhances the global status of the GCC and highlights its unified positions on issues discussed in international forums.

In May, as president of the 43rd regular session of the GCC, Oman began to host meetings of GCC ministerial committees in Muscat. These meetings seek to enhance cooperation between GCC states in the fields of  politics, economics, trade, security and defence.

In the political field, GCC efforts have led to the development of a unified and effective foreign policy that serves the aspirations of Gulf peoples, preserving their gains and sparing them ongoing regional and international conflicts. GCC efforts have focused on establishing unity in economic, defence and security policies and achieving the common goals and aspirations of the Cooperation Council.

GCC states have contributed to resolving many regional issues, the most important of which being the crisis in Yemen. The GCC encouraged dialogue and consultation between the parties concerned and on initiatives to support a political settlement and provide humanitarian aid. GCC States also worked hand in hand with the United Nations by supporting the efforts of the Special Envoy of the Secretary-General of the United Nations to Yemen.

On the Palestinian issue, the position of the GCC countries has remained consistent  – that the Palestinian cause constitutes the prime concern of Arabs and Muslims. The GCC continues to support the establishment of an independent Palestinian state within the borders of June 1967, with East Jerusalem as its capital. The GCC calls for efforts to ensure that the legitimate rights of the brotherly Palestinian people should be guaranteed. It also rejects the displacement of Palestinian people and the creation of settlements on occupied Palestinian lands.

The GCC states have also played a prominent role in securing a diplomatic solution for the return of the Syrian Arab Republic to the Arab League. These  efforts culminated in Syria’s participation in the 32nd Arab Summit held in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

 

Lebanon has also received special attention from the GCC, which takes a keen interest in the country’s security, sovereignty, independence and stability. The GCC has urged the Lebanese people to preserve their unity and to elect a president in accordance with the Lebanese constitution.

The developments in Sudan also received the attention of the GCC, which expressed its firm stance in support of the country’s security, safety and stability. The GCC called upon all political leaders in Sudan to exercise restraint and give priority to dialogue and wisdom. It urged all to join ranks and overcome their differences and focus on fulfilling the aspirations of the Sudanese people.

In the global arena, the GCC occupied centre stage and earned international and regional respect, thanks to the fact that over the last four decades it has consistently endorsied dialogue as an approach to deepen common understanding as the best basis for resolving issues.

Major GCC joint economic projects over the past 40 years have included the Gulf Common Market, the Gulf Cooperation Council Interconnection Authority, the GCC unified smart card, the Customs Union, the Gulf Payments Company, the GCC railway project and the customs information centre.

In 2002 the GCC states endorsed a security strategy for combating extremism accompanied by terrorism and  issued the “Muscat Declaration on Combating Terrorism”.

In 2004, the GCC states signed a GCC agreement on combating terrorism, with most of the member states ratifying the agreement, which became binding under Article (46), for countries that deposited ratification documents at the GCC General Secretariat.

Over the past 42 years the education sector has also received the attention of the Cooperation Council. Achievements include work on equality in general and technical education and the promotion of the values of Gulf citizenship. GCC states endorsed guidelines for equality among GCC citizens who are resident in each other’s countries in terms of treatment at universities and government higher education institutions.

In the health field, GCC states demonstrated their cooperation through the exchange of expertise and medical technologies during the Covid-19 pandemic. The experience showed the ability of member statesto work j ointly to stem the spread of the virus through quarantine measures and the application of standards regulating international travel and trade.

In the fields of culture, tourism, antiquities and museums, the achievements the GCC include the establishment of the Centre for Translation and Arabisation. Member states have also endorsed the new “GCC Cultural Strategy 2020-2030”, as well as a guiding law to regulate antiquities and a programme for cooperation to protect antiquities in partnership with the countries of the world.

 

In the field of youth and sports, the GCC states have secured achievements such as the Gulf Cup, a strategy for developing joint action in the sports field, regulations for the technical committees of the youth and sports ministers committee, a website for information youth activities and a strategic plan devised by the Committee of  of Youth and Sports Ministers.

The GCC states have taken a  keen interest in elevating the status of women by supporting them and encouraging their active participation in activities at local, regional and international levels. Women’s representation in senior administrative positions and at company board level now stands at 50%. In some GCC states 65% of women are now contributing to economic activities. Female participation in university education stands at 59 %, while the percentage of women participating in legislative bodies has reached 50 percent.