Unity and citizens' welfare stressed

Riyadh: The Riyadh Declaration issued at the end of the 32nd Summit of GCC leaders yesterday expressed the bloc's determination to deal as one with changes, challenges and dangers in the region that threaten bonds that bring them together.

Emerging geo-political situations called for closing ranks, unifying visions and mobilising joint energies, the declaration acknowledged.

The GCC leaders also reiterated their full commitment to achieve objectives of the Statute of the Council, including coordination, integration and interdependence among member states in all fields in their quest for unity.

The need to keep abreast of the aspirations of the people of the GCC states to accelerate the pace of joint action and to strengthen the concept of Arab and Islamic identity of the member countries as well as to achieve greater coherence and unity, strength and well-being was also emphasised.

Youth acknowledged

The Riyadh Declaration stated that the leaders of the GCC countries declare their determination to strengthen and expand the role of citizens of GCC countries in order to achieve a bright future that meets the aspirations of younger generations. The thrust areas of the declaration state:

•  Adopt the initiative of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques to move beyond cooperation to the Union to transform the GCC into a single entity in order to achieve good and ward off evil, in response to the aspirations of the citizens of GCC countries and the challenges they face.
• Speed up the process of development and comprehensive reform in their countries so as to achieve greater participation of all citizens, men and women and open vast prospects for the future while at the same time maintaining security, stability and national cohesion and social welfare.
• Fortify the home front and the consolidation of national unity based on the equality of all citizens before the law and in their rights and duties; and confronting the attempts by the troubled foreign entities who try to export their internal crises through sedition, division and incitement of sectarian sentiments.

Overcome impediments

• Work hard to achieve the highest degree of economic integration among the GCC countries and overcome the impediments that obstruct the march to achieve the customs union, monetary union and the common market of GCC states.
• Develop defence and security cooperation to ensure rapid, effective, united and collective encountering of any dangers and emergencies.
• Activate GCC diplomacy to serve the national, Arab and Islamic issues; unify group communication with all regional and international powers and safeguard the common interests of the GCC countries in all international forums.
• Deepen the collective belongingness in the minds of the youth in GCC states, fortify its identity and protect its gains by intensifying communication, cooperation and convergence among them and by employing educational, informational, cultural, sports and scout activities to achieve this goal.
• The General Secretariat of the GCC will follow-up and report to the Supreme Council.