UN chief in Abu Dhabi
UN Secretary General Kofi Annan arrived in The United Arab Emirates on Sunday to take part in the annual summit of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states.
Annan, who is the summit's guest of honor, did not make statements upon his arrival in Abu Dhabi. The GCC summit will convene today and last until Wednesday.
The GCC summit will also be attended for the first time by Arab League Secretary General Esmat Abdul Meguid, and President Nelson Mandela of South Africa.
Besides several items listed on the meeting's agenda, including the Middle East peace process, the GCC summit will discuss the drastic deterioration in international oil prices and the consequences of that deterioration on the economies of the Gulf states.
GCC secretary general Jamil Hujeilan said that leaders of the GCC will discuss during their three-day deliberations the impact of low oil prices on the economies of the GCC's six member states, which belong to the Organization of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries as well as on questions pertaining to defense and security, two main issues in past GCC sessions.
Al-Hujeilan stated that the recession in oil prices, which have reached their lowest point since 1976, had an adverse impact on the economics of the GCC states. However, economic experts in the Gulf region said that the participants in the summit will discuss previously debated matters including "a common tariff customs, hotbed issues and means of strengthening oil companies through merging or improving their performance."
Moreover, diplomatic sources in Abu Dhabi said the GCC states will renew their demands that Iraq continue cooperation with the UN to avoid a possible deterioration which may lead to an American military intervention.
The sources added that the Gulf leaders, on the ground of their concerns over Iraq, will reiterate their call upon Iraq to carry out all UN resolutions and respond positively with UNSCOM team because this is the only means "to avoid Iraq a military strike and US intervention in its internal affairs."
The meeting will also address the Gulf states' relations with Iran.