Bahraini PM calls for advancing from cooperation to union state of Gulf countries

Bahraini Prime Minister Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa underlined the importance of advancing from the state of cooperation among the Arab Gulf countries to the union "as a safe haven" with political and strategic horizons, thus honoring Gulf people's aspirations. The 34th Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) summit, due in Kuwait tomorrow, "will be an important mark that can establish a new phase of the common Gulf action," Prince Khalifa said in an interview with Kuwait News Agency (KUNA). Prince Khalifa said the December 10-11 34th Summit, to be chaired by Emir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, comes amidst "changes that require unconventional methods to deal with the new reality that has been formulating in the region and other regions." He voiced confident that the summit would have "constructive" resolutions that would further contribute to the prosperity of people and integration of the GCC member countries at all levels. Prince Khalifa said moving from the "state of cooperation to the state of the Gulf union is a pressing demand more than ever." He added the Gulf people were keen on seeing the union as reality. "Peoples of the members of the Council hope that the Gulf unity be reality especially that it is one of the demands declared since the establishment of the GCC in 1981 ... Time has come to establish the Gulf union without delay," affirmed Prince Khalifa. "The endorsement of the Gulf union will put the framework that will meet aspirations of peoples of the Council members," he added, citing the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the EU and African Union.