Nasser : Jordan joining GCC is a mutual interest

Jordan's Foreign Minister Nasser Judeh said on Saturday that Jordan's joining the 6-nation Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) as an initiative of the regional bloc's leaders is a mutual interest. According to Jordan's official news agency (Petra), Judeh told a special session hosted by the Business Economic Policy Forum at Talal Abu-Ghazaleh College of Business that the accession proposal is an "old-new" initiative rather than the result of certain regional events, but emphasized that the Kingdom had requested membership. Addressing the head and members of the panel in charge of Jordan's accession bid attending the forum, the minister referred to "some points and details that needed clarification by officials on both sides," stressing that all the details should be made clear out of their keenness to complete the accession without any negative aspects. He said contacts were underway with the GCC leaders and officials, referring to a meeting scheduled to take place between September 10 and 15 to hammer out an accession "road map", describing it as an important meeting, but added "it's the start." Judeh said his ministry is spearheading the accession effort in cooperation with all ministries and other state institutions, noting that the ministry had been coordinating the functions of task forces set up at various sectors for that purpose. He said that after the September meeting, joint ministerial committees will be set up from Jordan and the GCC nations. (end) ab.hb KUNA 201940 Aug 11NNNN