Dubai: Security and stability in the region and the Middle East peace process were the main focus of the 12th Consultative Summit of the Gulf Cooperation Council in Riyadh on Tuesday.
A range of other regional and international issues was discussed by the leaders of the six GCC states during the bi-annual summit, chaired by King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz of Saudi Arabia.
The meeting is dedicated to discussions on cooperation between the six nations and ways to bolster progress in the GCC bloc in the best interests of the Gulf Arabs.
His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai, headed the UAE delegation to the meeting.
Regional worries
The meeting also touched upon political, economic and security issues, with Palestinian-Israeli talks, Iraq's elections and Iran's nuclear plans prominent among them. The Gulf countries are worried that a standoff between Iran and the West could lead to a regional conflict.
The Middle East peace process was given a special focus following the renewal of indirect negotiations between the Palestinians and Israelis and the efforts of the US administration to push the process forward.
Last month, GCC Secretary General Abdul Rahman Al Attiyah said that the meeting would touch on military cooperation and the formation of a quick intervention force in the Gulf.
The proposed unit aims to combat any foreign aggression and support stability in the world's largest oil exporting region.
GCC march
On the sidelines of the meeting, Shaikh Mohammad met King Hamad Bin Eisa Al Khalifa of Bahrain and discussed issues on the meeting's agenda, ways to boost the GCC's march and issues of mutual interest.
Shaikh Mohammad arrived in Riyadh earlier Tuesday and was welcomed by King Abdullah, Saudi princes, ministers and high-ranking officials.
The Vice-President, who was accompanied by a high-profile delegation including Lieutenant General Shaikh Saif Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Interior Minister, Shaikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Foreign Minister, Obaid Humaid Al Tayer, Minister of State for Financial Affairs, Reem Ebrahim Al Hashemi, State Minister, and the UAE Ambassador to Saudi Arabia.
