Key resolutions of GCC summits since 1981

Bahrain’s capital, Manama, will host the GCC Summit on December 6-7 to discuss several issues and relevant dossiers on the promotion of the GCC march and developments in the region. In this regard, the resolution taken in 1981 to form the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) member states was a quantum leap and a real representation of several bonds amongst member states. The resolution was also a key step to upgrade GCC relations and address several challenges.

This report reviews the key resolutions taken by GCC summits between 1981-2015:

Abu Dhabi Summit in 1981: The Gulf leaders announced officially the formation of Gulf Cooperation Council and stressed that guaranteeing stability in the region is related to achieving peace in the Middle East through finding a “fair’ solution to the Palestinian cause.

Riyadh Summit in 1981: GCC leaders agreed the economic agreement with the aim of removing obstacles amongst member states and strengthening bonds amongst the region’s nations.

Manama Summit in 1982: The Gulf council agreed on establishing the Gulf Investment Corporation with a capital of USD 2.2 billion and transferring the Saudi Arabian Standards Organization into a Gulf body tasked with specifications and standards in the GCC countries.

Kuwait Summit in 1984: The Gulf council approved the formula governing the right of citizens’ possession in GCC member states.

Muscat Summit in 1985: GCC leaders agreed to set a deadline to implement GCC economic activities and approved the unified agricultural and strategical policy of industrial development.

Abu Dhabi Summit in 1986: GCC approved recommendations on military cooperation and allowing GCC citizens to get loans from industrial development banks and funds.

Riyadh Summit in 1987: The Supreme Council of GCC states endorsed the lending oil system amongst member states and the council authorized ministers to start official negotiations with the economic group.

Manama Summit 1988: The Supreme Council agreed on allowing GCC citizens to own shares at jointstock companies operating in economic activities in accordance with equality and the proposed rules.

Doha Summit in 1990: The Supreme Council condemned the Iraqi occupation of

Kuwait and stressed the absolute support and solidarity of GCC governments and nations with Kuwaitis to liberate their territories

The council lauded steadfastness of Kuwaitis and their rejection to the occupation as well as the abidance by their legal government under the leadership of the His Highness late Amir Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah.

The council reiterated its call for Iraq to respect international conventions, charters and norms signed with Kuwait, calling on it to withdraw from all Kuwaiti territories.

Abu Dhabi in 1992: The Supreme Council extolled the UN Security Council Resolution 773 that stressed the need to respect the Kuwaiti-Iraqi borders, welcoming the steps taken by the UN on the demarcation of borders between Kuwait and Iraq.

Kuwait Summit 1997: The Supreme Council approved three systems for the preservation and promotion of natural habitat, handling of radioactive materials and waste management, including the measures that must be complied with when moving hazardous waste across the borders of member states.

Muscat Summit in 2001: The Supreme Council okayed the GCC economic agreement as a replacement of the unified economic one endorsed in 1981. The council endorsed the implementation of the customs union on January 1, 2003, and the reduction of the unified customs tariff.

Doha Summit in 2002: The leaders approved a document, which contains the petroleum strategy for the GCC states and ratified the Regional Emergency Plan for Petroleum Products of the member states. The Gulf Customs Union becomes reality; under the union, which was to take effect in January 2003, the GCC would become a “single customs zone” in which a unified 5 per cent tariff is applied.

Kuwait Summit in 2003: The war on Iraq was the top of the summit’s agenda. The Council stressed its sympathy and solidarity with Iraqis in their distress because of security situations there.

Manama Summit in 2004: The council called on the UN to cooperate with the interim Iraqi government so as to return the Kuwaiti possessions and the national archive controlled by the former Iraqi regime during the occupation.

Abu Dhabi Summit in 2005: The council endorsed a document on standard trade policy, aimed at unifying foreign trade policies for the GCC countries so as to enable them deal with the outside world as a single economic bloc.

Riyadh Summit in 2006: The Council approved a law on GCC trademarks regulating trade relations and their registration measures.

Doha Summit in 2007: The council expressed its satisfaction over the launch of the Gulf Common Market, with effect from January 1, 2008. The council approved the development of retail and wholesale in line with the requirements of the joint Gulf market.

Muscat Summit in 2008: The GCC leaders welcomed the coordinative council between Saudi Arabia and Qatar on cementing and upgrading the bilateral relations.

Kuwait Summit in 2009: The council approved the principle of equality amongst GCC citizens in vocational education and the GCC defense strategy as well as the development of the Peninsula Shield Forces.

Abu Dhabi Summit in 2010: The GCC allowed Gulf companies to inaugurate branches in GCC states.

Manama 2012: The GCC approved the decision taken by the Joint Defence Council and the establishment of a joint military command.

Kuwait Summit in 2013: The GCC leaders decided to form a joint military command and asked the Joint Defence Council to take the required measures for this purpose. They condemned strongly the continued genocides committed by Syria’s regime against the Syrian people.

Doha Summit in 2014: The Supreme Council endorsed recommendations and decisions by Interior Ministers on establishing a Gulf police apparatus in Abu Dhabi and the acceleration of forming the joint military command. The council stressed the GCC commitment to rejecting extremist though.

Riyadh Summit in 2015: The GCC leaders affirmed their support for finding political solutions to the Syrian crisis in accordance with the Geneva-1, and to Yemen’s crisis based on the Gulf initiative. They called for accelerating the steps of military and security cooperation amongst GCC states. —KUNA