Ministerial GCC panel meets today in Jeddah

A GCC ministerial council meeting will open yesterday in the Red Sea port city of Jeddah amid strict security measures.

The council is expected to discuss ways and means for implementing the decisions taken by the sixth GCC consultative summit in Jeddah last month.

According to GCC secretary general Abdurrahman Al Attiya, the foreign ministers of the regional grouping will exchange views on "the most ideal ways for implementing the decisions handed down by the latest Consultative Summit". These include intensifying the fight against terror and supporting Saudi Arabia's fight against terrorism.

He said the agenda of the meeting will also include discussions on the recommendations of recent meetings of various ministerial committees dealing with the collective efforts the GCC member countries are making in different fields. "The ministers will review latest developments in the Palestinian problem and in Iraq and the occupation by Iran of the three islands of Abu Mussa, Greater and Lesser Tunbs," he added.

The ministers will also review a number of recommendations on joint actions by member countries. "These will include the recommendations made by joint meetings between financial and economic cooperation committee and the electrical cooperation committee," he said.