Abu Dhabi: The annual Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) summit begins here on Monday amid security concerns over Iran's nuclear ambitions in the wake of the WikiLeaks revelations.
The meeting also follows the Manama Dialogue security conference where Iran was the central theme.
Speaking on the fringes of the opening of the GCC exhibition here on Sunday GCC Secretary General Abdul Rahman Al Attiyah affirmed that the summit chairmanship of President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan provides a factor of success to the major gathering.
"Shaikh Khalifa's management of the summit will add many achievements that contribute to realising aspirations of the GCC citizen for security, stability and economic integration among member states," Al Attiyah said.
"The Abu Dhabi summit is being convened at a critical time when the pace is being accelerated to boost joint GCC action and maintain security and stability," WAM quoted him as saying.
"The summit which comes after 30 years of Abu Dhabi hosting the first founding meeting will provide a qualitative leap in the joint GCC action and will add several achievements in realisation of the GCC customs union, common market and single currency and economic citizenship," Al Attiyah said, according to WAM.
He added that the summit will pass a host of important decisions concerning the GCC power and rail grids and peaceful use of nuclear energy.
"The summit will approve a resolution allowing companies to open branches in member states, a move that is expected to deepen economic citizenship and improve joint investment climate," he disclosed.
Asked about the return of the UAE and Oman to the GCC monetary union, Al Attiyah said, "The UAE's role is important for the GCC joint action." On Oman’s return, he added: "Muscat holds the view that it would join when it is ready for that step."
