(MENAFN- The Peninsula) The 35th GCC summit that opens here tomorrow will focus on regional conflicts and the threat by terror groups to the stability and security of member states, among other issues, Gulf Cooperation Council Secretary General Dr Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani has said.
In an interview with the Qatar News Agency, Al Zayani said that the Doha summit is taking place "at a very important time and in extremely critical circumstances, which undoubtedly requires more solidarity among the GCC countries."
The unstable condition in some Arab countries and the worsening situation of refugees and the displaced in a number of Arab states and the growing regional interventions in Arab affairs will also come up for discussion, said Al Zayani. Lack of a unified Arab stance on terrorism will also be discussed.
He said Qatar has an active and effective role in the march of the Gulf Cooperation Council and its achievements in all spheres. People of GCC countries have absolute faith that the Emir
H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and other GCC leaders will deepen integration, interdependence and solidarity within the council, he added.
He called the summit as the "summit of joy" being held in an atmosphere of joy for maintaining the solidarity of the GCC countries.
"It is the joy which the GCC people felt after reaching the Riyadh Supplementary Agreement during the GCC leaders meeting in Riyadh on November 16, held at the invitation of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz of Saudi Arabia," said Al Zayani.
Several important reports by the ministerial committees and the General Secretariat of the Council in the fields of security, military, economy and development will be presented at the summit.
Al Zayani said that the GCC countries have taken a series of effective measures to combat acts of terrorism at all levels internally, regionally and internationally.
At the national level, the GCC countries issued laws on combating terrorism and to fight its financing, including a security strategy to combat extremism and terrorism, and the GCC convention to fight terrorism.
At the international level, the GCC countries joined many international conventions and legal instruments in an effort to shore up international efforts to combat terrorism.
The GCC secretary-general underlined that the GCC countries are committed to the unity of Yemen, respect its sovereignty and independence and reject any interference in its internal affairs.
"The GCC countries support peaceful dialogue away from violence and chaos, and countries support Yemeni President AbdRabbuh Mansur Hadi to complete the transition stage in accordance with the GCC initiative," he said.
He said the GCC leaders attached great importance to the GCC railway network project that will facilitate the movement of goods and people between the member countries and support joint investments.
He said significant progress had been made in implementation of the project. The member states had agreed, in coordination with the General Secretariat, on an action plan and a schedule for the completion of engineering designs for the project.
The project is expected to be implemented and become operational during 2018.
On GCC Interconnection Grid, Al Zayani said committees are working on the project as recommended by the GCC leaders.
Consultations are underway between member states to reach the best way to implement it on the ground, taking into account requirements of the environment, he added.
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