Cooperation Council for the
Arab States of the
Gulf (GCC)
Definition:
GCC is a political, economic, social, regional
organization according to its charter. It is a regional cooperation system
between the Arab States of the Gulf
created to meet the challenges imposed by surrounding circumstances.
The scope of its work includes economy, politics,
security, culture, health, information, education, legal affairs,
administration, energy, industry, mining, agriculture, fishery and livestock.
Member States:
The United Arab Emirates
The Kingdom of Bahrain
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
The Sultanate of Oman
The State of Qatar
The State of Kuwait
GCC states are located in the Arabian peninsula
southwest of Asia between the latitudes of 15 and 35 north of equator and
longitudes of 35 and 60 east of Greenwich, bordered by Iraq and Jordan in the
North, Republic of Yemen and the Arabian Sea in the South, Arabian Gulf in the
East, and Red Sea in the West.
Population:
According to 2000 census, the total population of the
six member states is 31,015,200.
Area:
The total area of GCC countries is estimated to be
2,667,000 square kilometres.
The establishment of the GCC:
The geographical nature of the GCC states and the
similarity of their regulations, economic and social conditions, and the nature
of contemporary challenges are the factors that helped in the establishment of
the GCC.
The Foreign Ministers of the six member
states met in Riyadh on February 4, 1981 and issued a communique expressing
their agreement to establish a Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the
Gulf, form a Secretariat General for this purpose, hold periodic summit meetings and ministerial
meetings to achieve the objectives set
out for the member states and their people.
The first summit was held on May 25, 1981 in
Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Summits are held every year.
Objectives of the GCC:
The basic objectives of the Cooperation Council are as
follows:
(1)
To effect coordination,
integration, and interconnection among member states in all fields in order to
achieve unity among them.
(2)
To deepen and strengthen
relations, links and areas of cooperation now prevailing among their people in
various fields.
(3)
To formulate similar
regulations in various fields including the following:
(a) Economic and financial affairs.
(b) Commerce, customs and communications
(c) Education and Culture
(d) Social and health affairs
(e) Information and tourism
(f) Legislative and administrative affairs
(4)
To stimulate scientific
and technological progress in the
fields of industry, mining, agriculture, water and animal resources, to
establish scientific research, to establish joint ventures and encourage
cooperation by the private sector for the good of their people.
Organizations of the Cooperation Council:
The Cooperation Council has the following main
organizations:
(1)The
Supreme Council to which is attached the Commission for Settlement of Dispute.
(2)The
Ministerial Council.
(3)The
Secretariat General.
(1) Supreme Council:
The Supreme Council is the highest authority of the
Cooperation Council formed of heads of member states. Its presidency is
rotatory based on the alphabetical order of the names of the member states.
It holds two ordinary and consultative
sessions every year. Extraordinary sessions may be convened at the request of
any member seconded by another
member.
It holds its session in the territories of
member states.
Supreme Council’s meeting is considered
valid if attended by two-thirds of the member states.
The Cooperation Council has a commission
called “The Commission for the Settlement of Dispute” which is attached to the
Supreme Council.
The Supreme Council establishes the
composition of the Commission for every case on an “ad-hoc” basis in accordance with the nature of
dispute.
If a dispute arises over interpretation or
implementation of the Charter and such a dispute is not resolved within the
Ministerial Council or the Supreme Council, the Supreme Council may refer such
dispute to the Commission for the Settlement of Dispute.
The Commission submits its recommendation or
opinions as applicable, to the Supreme Council for such action as the Supreme
Council deems appropriate.
(2) Ministerial Council
The Ministerial Council is formed of the Foreign
Ministers of the Member States or other delegated ministers. The presidency of
the Ministerial Council is for the Member States which presided the last
ordinary session of the supreme Council or if necessary, or the states which is
next to preside the Supreme Council.
The Ministerial Council meets every three
months. An extraordinary meeting could also be held whenever needed.
(3) The
Consultative Commission for the GCC Supreme Council:
Based on the resolution of the GCC Supreme
Council in its 8th session held in Kuwait in December 1997, to
establish an advisory commission for the Supreme Council consisting of 30
members (five from each GCC Member State for three renewable years), the
Commission held its first meeting in November, 1998.
(4)
Secretariat General:
The Secretariat General is composed of a
Secretary-General, Assistant Secretaries-General, and a number of staff as
required. Its headquarters is in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The Secretariat General
is consists of the following sectors:
-Secretary-General’s Office
- Political Affairs.
- Military Affairs
- Economic Affairs
- Human and Environment Affairs
- Legal Affairs
- Finance and Administration Affairs
- Information Centre
- Information Department
- The Technical
Telecommunication Bureau in Bahrain
-GCC Delegation in Brussels