The Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf (GCC) countries celebrate the 42nd anniversary of the founding of the Council on May 25, 1981.
The GCC General Secretariat is celebrating this occasion with a ceremony at its headquarters in Riyadh today, as an expression of pride in the march and achievements of the Council over the past 42 years.
The decision to establish the Council was not a spur of the moment, but was an institutional embodiment of a historical, social and cultural reality; as the GCC countries enjoy deep religious and cultural ties, in addition to family intermingling among their citizens.
In their entirety, they are factors of rapprochement and unification, reinforced by the geographical area extending across the coastal desert environment that embraces the inhabitants of this region, facilitated contact and communication between them, and created interdependence between the inhabitants of this region and homogeneity in identity and values.
The establishment of the Council also came in response to the aspirations of the people of the region for a sort of regional Arab unity, after it was not realizable at the comprehensive Arab level.
In remarks on the occasion, GCC Secretary-General Jassim Muhammad Al Budaiwi, said that the celebration of the 42 anniversary is a celebration of this entity and its blessed journey since 1981. With the grace of God, and the vision of Their Majesties and Highnesses, the leaders of the GCC states, the GCC march is moving forward to achieve the goals and aspirations of its people, and translate a reality that aims to preserve the gains achieved, and build for the future with confidence and determination, he added.
The Statute of the GCC stipulated that its establishment came as a result of its member states realizing the special relations, common features, and similar systems that are based on the Islamic faith, believing in the common destiny and unity of purpose that unites their peoples, and desiring to achieve coordination, integration, and interdependence between them in all fields, convinced that coordination, cooperation and integration among them serve the lofty goals of the Arab nation.
According to the Statute of the Cooperation Council, its main objectives are to achieve coordination, integration and interdependence among member states in all fields in order to realize unity, deepening and strengthening existing ties, connections and aspects of cooperation between their peoples in various fields, and establishing similar systems in various fields, including economic, financial, commercial, educational, cultural, social, health, media, tourism, legislative and administrative affairs, advancing scientific and technical progress in the fields of industry, mining, agriculture, water and animal resources, establishing scientific research centers, establishing joint projects, and encouraging private sector cooperation for the benefit of its people.
The 42nd anniversary of the founding of the GCC comes to see the Council enjoying a good reputation, as well as a prestigious regional and global position, being the most successful integrational experience in the region, an experience that has become a subject of praise and admiration, and has become a basic pillar of security and stability and a voice for wisdom and balance.
Source: Qatar News Agency