Gulf Cooperation Council holds talks on consultative council

The six-member preparatory committee held in Doha the capital of Qatar on September 3 its first deliberation to discuss the statutes of formulating a 30-member consultative council for the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).

GCC secretary general Jamil al Hujailan told reporters following a meeting earlier today that the matter was still under discussion.

Al Hujailan said that standing orders to coordinate contacts among the consultative council, the GCC's general secretariat and the supreme council were among the key points of the proposal.

Senior aide to the acting prime minister and foreign minister, and former GCC Secretary General Abdullah Bishara said in a similar statement that the issue was very significant, adding that it would require a comprehensive study.

Asked whether there were working papers to be discussed, Al Hujailan said there would be one paper which was referred to the meeting by the GCC's general secretariat.

Denying he would chair the council, he pointed out that the presidency of the council would rotate among the GCC member countries: Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Oman, Qatar and Bahrain.