For the first time in the Gulf Cooperation Council’s (GCC) 36-year history, there is a great deal of doubt now about convening its annual summit.
Kuwait, the host of this year’s meeting, set for the 5th and 6th of December, announced it had sent invitations to the six GCC member states. However, this year’s meeting is being overshadowed by the Qatar crisis.
Three GCC countries, Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Bahrain, in addition to Egypt on June 5 cut off diplomatic and economic ties with Doha over its support for extremism and terrorist groups and its flagrant interference in other Gulf and Arab countries’ affairs. The four countries announced 13 demands that Qatar must agree to and implement before they can end the boycott.
As the UAE celebrates its 46th National Day, it is worth mentioning that this young country and the GCC almost grew together. Its belief in the common interests and destiny of the Arab Gulf peoples and the GCC institution is one of the main pillars of its national policy.
Doha’s hostile policies
Today, the GCC summit institution is being hijacked by Qatar and its misled policies not only undermine the region’s stability but also the GCC as a group. Thus, the Qatar crisis, which will be solved only if Doha responds positively to the 13 demands, must not be allowed to torpedo Tuesday’s summit.
The member states, including the UAE, have yet to confirm their participation in the summit. The Gulf peoples meanwhile hope the meeting will go ahead and be attended by all. It is important that the summit be held because it represents the six states’ belief in the political, social, economic and security integration of the organisation.
Qatar must also understand that the participation of the other states, if it took place, does not mean its isolation is over. On the contrary, it means that other countries are committed to the success of the GCC despite Doha’s hostile policies in the hope that one day Qatar will share the same belief.
