Khalifa calls for common stance on key regional developments

Muscat: The 29th summit of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) is being held amid significant regional and international developments, said President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

He called for a common approach to these developments.

Shaikh Khalifa spoke upon his arrival in Muscat to take part in the summit which began on Monday.

Shaikh Khalifa said: "We have great confidence that we will reach positive resolutions to boost the achievements made by the GCC as well as to move on to a new phase of GCC joint action in the best interests of the member-states and their peoples."

"Over the past years, the March of the GCC has made many achievements in various areas. We are fully confident that this summit will come up with more effective steps to further bolster this March and to achieve more prosperity for our peoples and more stability for the region," he added.

Financial crisis

In an opening speech to the summit, Sultan Qaboos Bin Saeed of Oman called for joint efforts to tackle the global financial crisis.

Before the meeting, GCC Secretary-General Abdul Rahman Al Attiyah expressed solidarity with the people of Gaza.

"We as GCC have always backed the Palestinian cause and there's no doubt that the Gaza massacre will take precedence over all other matters as we deliberate for two days," he told Gulf News.

With the focus on the current financial crisis, Qaboos said: "This requires finding a basis for the stability of oil prices that will not burden consumers, meet the development requirements of developing countries and at the same time will not harm oil producing countries by preserving their development plans. We look forward to cooperation from all to realising this vision," he said.

"The world financial situation necessitates joint efforts with other countries to tackle and correct this situation in order to restore the economic and social programmes and guarantee the continuation of international trade and cooperation."

He also underlined the importance of working with international parties to correct this financial crisis.

"We are determined - with God's assistance and guidance - to preserve the achievements made by our states for the benefits of our citizens," Qaboos emphasised in his speech.

- With inputs from WAM