Saudi Arabia yesterday called on Gulf leaders to strengthen their ties and unite their voices. "We (the Gulf leaders) meet under one roof in Manama in disturbing regional and international circumstances," said Prince Sultan, second deputy premier and minister of defense and aviation. Leaders of the six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) began their two-day annual summit in Manama yesterday amid tight security measures. Bahrain's king, Sheikh Hamad ibn Isa Al-Khalifa, opened the summit with a short speech. "We have always been a symbol of coherence and integration and we will continue to be so," the king told the GCC leaders.
"We trust that Bahrain's king will aim to achieve that goal, the goal of unity — it is an international need," said Prince Sultan, the leader of the Saudi delegation. "The Bahraini leader is wise in his decisions and the region needs a strong push to continue its goals. The Gulf region needs to strengthen its presence in the international community. The GCC was set up to achieve certain goals of the citizens and that project should continue. The leaders will continue to achieve the goals set by the citizens. We are heading toward reforms and development," he said. |