GCC summit: leaders will seek to meet aspirations of the region

Gulf leaders set to meet after foreign ministers discussed final preparations on Monday

Secretary General of the GCC Abdullatif bin Rashid Al-Zayani, Kuwaiti Emir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, Qatar's Prime Minister Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani, Omani Deputy Prime Minister Fahd bin Mahmud al-Said, Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz, Bahrain's King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, Vice President and Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates , and ruler of the Emirate of Dubai Mohammed bin Rashid Al-Maktoum and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. AFP / Saudi Royal Palace

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Vice President and Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates , and ruler of the Emirate of Dubai Mohammed bin Rashid Al-Maktoum, speaking to each other. AFP / Saudi Royal Palace

Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz chairs a session of the Gulf Cooperation Council summit. AFP / Fayez Nureldine

Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz, flanked by his son Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, puts on his spectacles as he prepares to read a document while chairing a session of the Gulf Cooperation Council summit. AFP / Fayez Nureldine

Mohammed bin Rashid Al-Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates, and ruler of the Emirate of Dubai, attends a session of the 40th Gulf Cooperation Council summit. AFP / Fayez Nureldine

Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah (C), Emir of Kuwait, attends a session of the Gulf Cooperation Council summit. AFP / Fayez Nureldine

A general view of a session of the Gulf Cooperation Council summit. AFP / Fayez Nureldine

Bahrain's King Hamad Al-Khalifa attends the summit. AFP / Saudi Royal Palace

Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz chats with King Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifa of Bahrain. AFP / Fayez Nureldine

King Salman bin Abdulaziz of Saudi Arabia shakes hands with Kuwaiti Emir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, as Qatar's Prime Minister Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani and Omani Deputy Prime Minister Fahd bin Mahmud al-Said look on. AFP

King Salman bin Abdulaziz of Saudi Arabia stands between his bahraini counterpart Hamad Al-Khalifa and Omani Deputy Prime Minister Fahd bin Mahmud al-Said. AFP / Saudi Royal Palace

King Salman bin Abdulaziz reads notes. AFP / Saudi Royal Palace

Saudi Arabia's King Salman meets Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, during the Gulf Cooperation Council's (GCC) 40th Summit in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Reuters

Saudi Arabia's King Salman meets Fahad bin Mahmood, Oman's Deputy Prime Minister, during the GCC 40th Summit in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Reuters

Saudi Arabia's King Salman greets Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid on arrival in Riyadh. Photo SPA

Foreign ministers of the GCC arrive, ahead of an annual leaders summit in Riyadh. Saudi Press Agency / Handout via Reuters

Saudi Arabia's King Salman meets with Secretary-General of the GCC Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani in Riyadh. Saudi Press Agency / Handout via Reuters

Flags of GCC nations wave on the streets ahead of the 40th GCC summit. Reuters

As leaders from across the Gulf are set to gather in Riyadh on Tuesday for the 40th GCC summit, the body’s secretary general called for a united push to achieve the aspirations of the region's citizens, promote interdependence and more co-operation.

Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani told state-run Saudi Press Agency on Monday that the plan for the meeting included numerous points related to the political, economic, defence, security and legal landscape of the Gulf Cooperation Council.

He also praised the achievements of the body in recent years, pointing to the rising intraregional trade up from $6 billion in 2003 to $147 billion in 2018.

“The GCC plays a vital and active role in enhancing the security and stability of the region,” Mr Al Zayani said.

The meeting showed leaders' commitment to the GCC and  their ability to overcome difficulties and challenges, he said.

UAE Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Dr Anwar Gargash pointed to the challenges the body has faced in a tweet shortly after a ministerial-level meeting of the GCC on Monday, before the main summit.

“For those who want to be truthful and honest, the main diagnosis of the nature of the Cooperation Council is the primacy of the council’s interest,” he said. “Responsibility starts with the one who caused the crisis by reviewing his faulty policies that led to his isolation. Treatment starts with a commitment to pledges, restoration of credibility, cessation of supporting extremism and non-interference.

The minister's comments appeared to be a reference to widespread speculation that Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad would attend as part of a thawing of relations  after the 2017 Qatar crisis.

The UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Egypt cut ties with Qatar accusing it of supporting extremists and meddling in the affairs of other states. Doha denies the accusations.

Gulf officials have long said that relations can be restored if Qatar takes serious action to address these concerns, including support for the Muslim Brotherhood.

It appears Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim may not attend Tuesday's meeting as he left on Monday for Rwanda.

Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Abdullah Al Thani is expected to attend the main summit while Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Soltan Al Muraikhi attended the preparatory meeting on Monday.

Chaired by Dr Gargash on Monday, the foreign ministers’ meeting went over the topics to be discussed on Tuesday and reviewed reports submitted to the body by relevant councils and ministerial committees.

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah, Kuwaiti Deputy Foreign Minister Khalid Al Jarallah, Bahraini Foreign Minister Sheikh Khalid Al Khalifa, the Minister Responsible for Foreign Affairs of Oman Yousef bin Alawi and Sheikh Al Thani attended.