Gulf leaders to discuss EU-style union
S ARABIA: The leaders of the Gulf Cooperation Council was
scheduled to hold a meeting in Saudi Arabia yesterday to discuss transforming
their six nations into a union, similar to the European Union. The idea of the
GCC nations to integrate into one entity -- and replace what exists now as
simply a cooperative -- was first floated by Saudi Arabia in December.
Yesterday's meeting in Riyadh was expected to lay out the timetable for it.
The GCC is comprised of Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi
Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.
“The threats of all kinds require the hard works of the GCC
countries to shift from a current formula of cooperation to a union formula
acceptable to the six countries,” Saudi Foreign Minister Saud al-Faisal said
last month.
He didn't specify what threats he was referring to. But some
analysts have said the GCC move could be an effort to counter the growing
influence of Shiite Iran. The GCC was formed in 1981, soon after Iran
instituted a Shiite theocracy and went to war with primarily Sunni Iraq.
Iran and Iraq have enjoyed closer ties in recent years,
especially as Iraq's Shia Muslim majority has solidified its power in the
absence of former leader Saddam Hussein, a Sunni Muslim.
After U.S. forces pulled out of Iraq last year, Tehran has
expanded military and security cooperation with Baghdad.
Also, GCC member Bahrain blames Iran for fueling the
anti-government unrest that continues to roil the country. Tehran has denied
involvement.
Bahrain is a predominantly Shiite country, ruled by a Sunni
royal family. Last year, at the height of the protests, Bahrain called it
troops from member nations Saudi Arabia and the UAE and cracked down. Iran is
also engaged in a longtime border dispute with the UAE over three Persian Gulf
islands; Abu Mousa, and the Greater and Lesser Tunbs.
The UAE says Iran has illegally occupied the islands. Iran
views them as part of its territory. In this climate, comes the GCC move to
form a union.
“Such strategic vision would include common approaches to
defense, security, political and economic long-term interests,” said GCC
Assistant Secretary General Abdel Aziz Aluwaisheg in an opinion piece Sunday in
the Saudi English-language daily, Arab News.
Already, Al Wefaq, Bahrain's main Shiite opposition party,
has demanded that the Bahraini government put the idea to a popular vote before
it agrees.
“The people of the states of the European Union voted on the
union decision before the union was announced. The people of the Gulf should
also have their say,” he said.
CNN
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