(MENAFN- Kuwait News Agency (KUNA)) MANAMA, Dec 4 (KUNA) -- The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) leaders are meeting in Manama, Bahrain, on Tuesday, for their 37th Summit, amid drastic political and security conditions dictated by the conflicts and crises weeping the entire region.
The agenda of the Manama summit is anticipated to be copious with issues for the leaders to address, in light of the growing challenges, that impact the bloc.
Amidst such dire conditions, the leaders will seek to conclude a unified vision to face the escalating regional developments, motivated by unwavering belief in common destiny and keenness on maintaining the interests of the nations and peoples of the region.
Together with the latest developments on the regional and international scenes, the GCC leaders will also address further consolidating the march of bloc as well as the pan-GCC cooperation in all fields, embodying the historical ties among the member states and their people.
The GCC Foreign Minister held a preparatory meeting for the summit in Manama in November, when they discussed the political and security developments on the regional and international scenes; Syria, Iraq, Libya, Yemen and the international anti-terror efforts.
On the security level, the GCC states are exerting unrelenting efforts to counter acts of terror that some of them have suffered from since the 1980s. They have also adopted strategies and plan to combat the so -called Islamic State (IS).
The ongoing political and military changes in some countries of the region, like Yemen, Syria and Iraq, have come to impose insurmountable challenges for the GCC, added to the Palestinian cause that has always been given been on the agenda of the bloc's summits.
In spite of the military operations conducted by the Saudi-led coalition in support of legitimacy in Yemen, the GCC members support peaceful solutions, and dialogue among the warrying parties in the country to end the crisis and stop further bloodshed.
On the political level, the summit comes in the wake of the US presidential elections that saw Donald Trump being elected to lead the country for four years to come once inauguration takes place in January.
Thus, the future of the GCC-US ties is expected to feature high on the agenda, with a new administration that will soon b take over, and also in the aftermath of the Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act (JASTA) recently passed by the US Congress, facing Gulf and international rejection.
Thanks to leaders' wisdom and deep political experience, the GCC was able since it was established in 1981, to survive a multitude of security and economic threats.
Security has been a major issue of cooperation among the member states over the past years, and remarkable achievements have been made in this regard, topped with the Comprehensive Security Strategy approved in Muscat, Oman, in 1987, later reviewed, amended and then endorsed by the GCC Supreme Council in 2008. In addition, a strategic planning commission was formed to monitor security achievements, focusing on combating terrorism.
Out of strong belief that economy can only prosper in a safe and stable environment, cooperation among the ministries of interior has always been a priority.
The bloc's interior ministers have meet regularly since the first meeting held in February 1982, for laying down the basis for significant security coordination and cooperation.(end) kna.msa
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