GCC - EU meetings in Britain this week

A meeting between Gulf Cooperation Council member states' foreign ministers and the European Union Trioka (UK, Luxembourg, Austria) will take place on April 29 in Britain, as current EU president, hosted by British Foreign Secretary Robin Cook, who said the meeting aims, "to develop the dialogue into a partnership which will enhance stability in the Middle East to the benefit of both our regions and the wider world."

"The Gulf is vitally important, strategically and economically. The crisis with Iraq earlier this year reminded us all again of the overriding interests we share in the security of the region," Cook said.

The meeting will address EU/GCC Relations, Iran, Iraq, the Middle East peace process and other topics. The meetings will be held under the co-chairmanship of the Kuwaiti presidency of the GCC and the British foreign secretary.

The Secretary-General of the GCC, Jamil Al-Hejailan, will also attend the meeting, which the first of an increased number of meetings to be held this year between the GCC and the EU.