GCC/Middle eastern Bloc News/updates and info

GCC economic union 'soon'

MANAMA: Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Dr Nizar Al Baharna said the GCC economic union would be completed soon especially with the economic sector reaching high level of growth.

He called for the creation of an air transport and railway network linking the internal territory of the GCC countries.

The GCC bloc, despite its young age, was at the threshold of an infrastructure development boom, he said, and added that this would help in achieving greater GCC economic integration.

http://www.gulf-daily-news.com/Story.as ... ueID=30067


MINISTER OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS EXPECTS GCC ECONOMIC UNION TO BE COMPLETED SOON

date: 25 05, 2007


MANAMA, MAY 25, (BNA) MINISTER OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS DR. NIZAR AL BAHARNA EXPECTED THE GCC ECONOMIC UNION TO BE COMPLETED SOON ESPECIALLY WITH THE GCC ECONOMIC SECTOR REACHING HIGH LEVEL OF DEVELOPMENT.
DR.AL BAHARNA CALLED FOR THE CREATION OF AN AIR TRANSPORT AND RAILWAY NETWORK LINKING ONLY THE INTERNAL TERRITORY OF THE GCC COUNTRIES. HE WAS SPEAKING IN AN INTERVIEW WITH AL WATAN NEWSPAPER ISSUED TODAY TO MARK THE 26TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE GCC ORGANIZATION. THE GCC MARCH IS A MATURE EXPERIENCE DESPITE ITS YOUNG AGE COMPARED TO THE MORE THAN 50-YEAR-OLD EUROPEAN UNION EXPERIENCE, HE SAID. THE GCC COUNTRIES HAVE GONE A LONG WAY SINCE THEIR INDEPENDENCE IN THE SEVENTIES THANKS TO THE QUICK ESTABLISHMENT OF THE GCC ORGANIZATION, HE ADDED WHILE POINTING OUT TO THE BIG DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE EUROPEAN EXPERIENCE AND THE GCC ONE. THE EUROPEAN COUNTRIES, WHICH OUTNUMBER THE GCC ONES, ARE VERY DEVELOPED, HE SAID ADDING THAT THEIR UNITY DID NOT HAPPEN OVER NIGHT BUT TOOK A LONGER TIME UNTIL SOME OF THEM COULD ADJUST THEIR ECONOMIC STRUCTURE TO THE EUROPEAN MARKET. HOWEVER, THE GCC DEVELOPING COUNTRIES, DESPITE THEIR YOUNG AGE, COULD BUILD UP THEIR INFRASTRUCTURES SINCE THE 1980'S TO READY THEMSELVES FOR THE GCC UNION, DR. AL BAHARNA REVEALED. CONCERNING THE GCC ACHIEVEMENTS, HE SAID THAT THERE WAS A GREAT HARMONY IN THE FOREIGN POLICY REGARDING MANY ISSUES AND MOST OF THE TIME THE COUNCIL WAS UNANIMOUS OVER THEM. HE ALSO HOPED THAT THE PROJECT TO EASE CITIZENS' ACCESS TO THE GCC COUNTRIES BY USING THE CPR WOULD BE IMPLEMENTED SOON POINTING OUT THAT BAHRAIN HAD TAKEN THE FIRST STEPS TOWARDS THIS GOAL BY OPTING FOR THE SMART CARD. DESPITE DIFFERENCES IN TRADE ACTIVITIES AMONG THE GCC COUNTRIES, SUCH ECONOMIC EXPERIENCES CONVERT AND NEVER DIVERT TO MEET THE SAME GOALS, DR. AL BAHARNA NOTED POINTING OUT TO THE BIGGER ECONOMIC ROLE BAHRAIN WOULD ASSUME WITHIN FIVE YEARS THANKS TO THE ECONOMIC REFORM PROCESS THAT WOULD SPUR MORE INVESTMENTS. AOQ 25-MAY-2007 11:50
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