In Pictures: Milestones from the past GCC summits

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In Pictures: Milestones from the past GCC summits

Annual summits have been able to consolidate solidarity of member states against all odds

Published: January 05, 2021 17:35 Ramadan Al Sherbini, Correspondent and Devadasan K P, Picture Editor

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1981 GCC Abu Dhabi-1609853428407 — 1981: The founding summit of the Gulf Cooperation Council was held in Abu Dhabi on May 7, 1981, hosted by Shaikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, President of the UAE and Ruler of Abu Dhabi. The inaugural GCC Summit hosted by Shaikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan saw the birth of the GCC as a regional entity that aimed at enhancing cooperation and strengthening ties among the member states. The leaders set economic integration and social cohesion as their ultimate goals. The Abu Dhabi Declaration, maintained that the creation of the Council was dictated by historical, social, cultural, economic, political and strategic imperatives. Image Credit: WAM/Gulf News archives

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1987 Riyadh summit-1609853426358 — 1987 (Riyadh, December 26-29) The leaders approved a security strategy and sanctioned the defence ministers’ recommendations on military cooperation. They agreed to set up a GCC Common Market, by standardising customs tariffs. Image Credit: WAM/Gulf News archives

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1990 doha summit-1609853423856 — 1990 (Qatar, December 22-24) Summit overshadowed by Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait. Image Credit: WAM/Gulf News archives

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1992 GCC DHABI-1609853421270 — 1992 (Abu Dhabi, December 21-23) The summit confirmed its full backing of the UAE in its pursuance through peaceful means of regaining sovereignty over its islands of Abu Mousa and Greater and Lesser Tunbs occupied by Iran. Shaikh Fahim Bin Sultan Al Qasimi was appointed Secretary General in succession to Abdullah Yaqoub Bishara. Image Credit: WAM/Gulf News archives

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1998 GCC Dhabi-1609853419484 — 1998 (Abu Dhabi, December 7-9) The council has granted freedom of movement within the GCC countries to their citizens and has issued a number of resolutions to facilitate the flow of trade and commodities. Image Credit: WAM/Gulf News archives

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2003 gcc kuwait-1609853417937 — 2003 (Kuwait, December 21-22) The Council Expressed their strong condemnation over the attacks on housing complexes in Riyadh, and praised the efforts of Saudi security forces in thwarting terror attacks in Makkah. Image Credit: WAM/Gulf News archives

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2004 manama-1609853416172 — 2004 (Manama, December 20 – 21) The summit was named the ‘Zayed Summit’, paying tribute to UAE’s president. The leaders also reviewed a report on the smart card project, which would act as a national identity for GCC citizens Image Credit: WAM/Gulf News archives

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2007 doha summit-1609853414101 — 2007 (Doha December 3-4) The council announced the launch of the Gulf Common Market, with effect from January 1, 2008. The leaders came up with a historic decision stating that all GCC nationals will be treated equally in terms of rights to travel, employment and education as well as economic, financial and investment opportunities in all the member countries on a par with the nationals of each country Image Credit: WAM/Gulf News archives

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2009 kuwait-1609853412113 — 2009 (Kuwait, December 14-15) The summit also supported Saudi Arabia in its fight against Yemen’s Al Houthi group and called on Tehran to respond to the GCC’s repeated calls to solve peacefully the issues of the three UAE islands occupied by Iran. Image Credit: WAM/Gulf News archives

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2010 GCC DHABI-1609853409966 — 2010 (Abu Dhabi, December 6) The summit urged Iran to respond to international efforts to defuse a crisis over its nuclear programme. Image Credit: WAM/Gulf News archives

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2010 GCC DHABI 1-1609853407968 — GCC countries flags in Abu Dhabi for the GCC summit. Image Credit: Gulf News archives

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2011 GCC RIYADH-1609853405782 — 2011 (Riyadh, December 2011) The GCC leaders welcomed a proposal by then Saudi king Abdullah bin abdulaziz for the grouping to shift from the phase of cooperation to the phase of union. They also agreed to endorse the GCC citizens’ national ID cards as an identification document in all the six member countries. Image Credit: Gulf News archives

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2012 GCC BAHRAIN-1609853403675 — 2012 (Manama, December 24) UAE's Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai Sheikh Mohammed is received by Bahraini Prime Minister Prince Khalifa upon his arrival for the GCC summit, in Sakhir Airport, south of Manama. The GCC leaders agreed on proposed establishment of a joint military command tasked with coordination among and planning for the GCC nations’ ground, air and navy troops. Image Credit: Gulf News archives

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2013 KUWAIT-1609853401350 — 2013 (Kuwait City, December 10) The council’s leaders endorsed the creation of the unified GCC military command and tasked the Joint Defence Council to take the steps deemed necessary to activate the command. Image Credit: Gulf News archives

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2014 DOHA SUMMIT-1609853399338 — 2014 (Doha, December 9) The GCC leaders endorsed a recommendation by the council’s interior ministers to set a Gulf police agency based in Abu Dhabi. The summiteers also endorsed a GCC human rights declaration. Image Credit: Gulf News archives

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2015 GCC RIYADH-1609853397479 — 2015 (Riyadh, December 9) The summit saw an agreement on continued efforts to move from the phase of cooperation to that of union among the council’s member countries and adopting Saudi King Salman’s vision to strengthen integration among them. Image Credit: Gulf News archives

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2016 MANAMA-1609853395418 — 2016 (Manama, December 6) The leaders discussed the Yemeni and Syrian crises as well as Iran’s meddling in affairs of the Gulf region. The British prime minister Theresa May attended the summit, becoming the first British premier to show up at such a gathering. Image Credit: Gulf News archives

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2017 KUWAIT-1609853392291 — 2017 (Kuwait City, December 5) The leaders emphasized the importance of keeping the legal, political and diplomatic status of Jerusalem unchanged and warned against repercussions of doing the opposite. The warning came as Washington recognised Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, reversing decades-long US policy on the status of the holy city. The leaders also discussed anti-terror efforts. The summit was overshadowed by the Qatar crisis. Image Credit: Gulf News archives

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2018 RIYADH-1609853390459 — 2018 (Riyadh, December 9) The GCC leaders reiterated keeping the council to face regional challenges and pledged to remove all obstacles to the creation of the common Gulf market. Image Credit: Gulf News archives

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2019 GCC RIYADH-1609853388106 — 2019 (Riyadh, December 10). The final declaration of the summit stressed the importance of safeguarding maritime navigation in the Gulf against threats. The leaders also underlined moves to achieve economic unity among the GCC countries. Image Credit: Gulf News archives

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