Abu Dhabi: Companies owned by citizens of member countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) will be allowed to open branches for the same activities across the six-nation bloc, according to the communique of the 31st GCC summit. They will enjoy equal treatment everywhere across the GCC.
Meanwhile, GCC leaders reiterated on Tuesday at the end of their 31st summit in Abu Dhabi their unwavering stand towards the UAE's sovereignty over its three islands of Greater and Lesser Tunbs and Abu Mousa occupied by Iran.
In their closing statement, the GCC leaders threw their weight behind the UAE's right to regain sovereignty over its three islands and over the territorial waters, the airspace, the continental shelf, and the economic zone of the three islands, as they are an integral part of the UAE.
The leaders expressed their disappointment that the repeated contacts with the Islamic Republic of Iran have not produced any positive outcomes that would contribute to the resolution of the issue, and maintain the security and stability of the region.
Demands on Iran
The final statement of the two-day Abu Dhabi summit demanded Iran to commit itself to the basic principles of promoting good neighborly ties, mutual respect, non-interference in the internal affairs, settlement of disputes through peaceful means and refrain from using or threatening to use the force in that respect.
The leaders welcomed the international efforts, especially those made by the Group (5+1), to deal with the Iranian nuclear dossier and hoped that Iran would react positively to those efforts.
The statement said "The GCC monitored with grave concern the developments in the dossier and reiterated its firm position on the importance of compliance with principles of the international legitimacy, resolution of disputes through peaceful means and making the Middle East region, including the Gulf area, free of weapons of mass destruction and nuclear weapons."
The leaders passed a resolution allowing GCC companies to open branches in member states. The leaders expressed satisfaction at the performance of the GCC economies.
Extremism denounced
On terrorism, the statement expressed the GCC's denouncement of violence and terror-related extremism and its support for any regional and international effort for combating terrorism.
The statement called the international community to back the GCC proposal to establish a World Counterterrorism Center to strengthen the global efforts in this regard.
The leaders praised the security agencies in both Saudi Arabia and Bahrain for detecting and smashing terrorists cells.
GCC railway network
On the GCC railway network, the summit will go ahead with the design and pledges to expedite the completion which will be tentatively completed by 2017.
Next Summit in Saudi Arabia
President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan has announced the conclusion of the 31st Summit of the GCC, hosted by the UAE on December 6 and 7.
In a speech at the closing session, Shaikh Khalifa expressed his best wishes of speedy recovery for King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud of Saudi Arabia after the successful back surgery.
Saudi's Prince Nayef Bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud, Second Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, in a speech at the closing session said the next (32nd) GCC summit will be held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, upon the directives from King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz and upon the desire of King Hamad Bin Eisa Al Khalifa of Bahrain.
Prince Nayef also expressed gratitude to President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai, and General Shaikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, and the people and government of the UAE for the hospitality and the organisation of the summit.
He also commended the wisdom of Shaikh Khalifa in moderating the sessions of the summit.
Prince Nayef also read a cable from King Abdullah in which he said "we all look forward to the realisation of the goals and desires of our peoples".
King Abdullah also expressed to the GCC leaders his best wishes of success in their efforts. He said that he shares with the other leaders "the hopes and goals of our historical responsibility".
With inputs from Zaher Bitar, Staff Reporter, and WAM
