Iran to top GCC talks agenda

Riyadh: Ghazanfar Ali Khan Key regional developments in the Arab world including strained relations between the six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and Iran will top the agenda of the consultative meeting of the GCC heads of state in the Saudi capital on May 14, GCC officials said after wide-ranging talks between Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah and GCC SecretaryGeneral Abdullateef Al-zayani here yesterday.

King Abdullah said: “The Gulf states were committed to bolstering efforts through concerted action for peace and security. A more homogenous GCC economic bloc is the need of the hour.”

"The talks between King Abdullah and GCC chief came in the context of a regional trip undertaken by the GCC chief to brief the heads of Gulf governments about the GCC'S preparations for the consultative meeting," said GCC spokesman Saleem S. A. Al-alwi.

The talks between King Abdullah and Al-zayani were attended by high-ranking Saudi officials including Foreign Minister Prince Saud Al-faisal; Prince Muqrin , chief of General Intelligence; Prince Miteb bin Abdullah, minister of state, member of the cabinet and commander of the National Guard; and Prince Abdulaziz bin Abdullah, deputy minister of foreign affairs.

Al-alwi pointed out that Al-zayani would go to Qatar and Bahrain today to brief the officials on the GCC preparations. "The GCC chief will travel to Kuwait on Wednesday to talk to the Kuwaiti government and review the arrangements being made for the consultative meeting," said Al-alwi. He said the agenda will be all inclusive and leaders may choose to take up any subject of concern or of regional or international importance for discussion.

The meeting will also share information and look at possible ways to solve the crises in a number of states in the region.