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21:24 GMT
RIYADH, May 27 (KUNA) -- The Secretariat of the Gulf Cooperation Council
(GCC) held a celebration here Sunday evening to mark its 31st anniversary, in
the presence of the council's Secretary General Dr. Abdullatif Al-Zayyani.
The ceremony, patronized and attended by Governor of Riyadh Region Prince
Sattam bin Abdulaziz, gathered a number of Arab and foreign diplomats in Saudi
Arabia as well as several Saudi government and public figures.
Speaking to reporters on the occasion, Dr. Al-Zayyani extolled the leaders
of the GCC six member states for their perseverance in founding the council
and their efforts to protect the security and stability of the Arabian Gulf
region.
"The challenges faced by the GCC over the last three decades only
strengthened the resolve of the GCC leaders to advance the process of regional
integration and the noble targets of unity and shared prosperity and
development," he said.
"Through its ministerial council, the GCC strives to assert itself as a key
player in the regional and international affairs and makes great strides
towards integration. The council adopted crucial calculated steps in the field
of economic development such as the economic unity agreement, the common
market, the customs union and the monetary union.
"It made headway in strategic projects such as the Arabian Gulf University,
the power grid hookup and GCC railway network," Dr. Al-Zayyani noted.
He stated that the achievements made by the Council since its inception are
a source of pride for the nationals of all its member states.
Dr. Al-Zayyani praised the initiative of Saudi King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz
Al Saud for the GCC metamorphosis from cooperation stage into union.
The dignitaries who attended the ceremony included Undersecretary of the
Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs for Multilateral Relations Prince Turki bin
Mohammed bin Saud Al-Kabeer, President of Royal Commission for Jubail and
Yanbu, President of Saudi Wildlife Authority Prince Bandar bin Saud bin
Mohammed, and Prince Saud bin Abdullah bin Thunayan. (end)
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KUNA 280024 May 12NNNN