GCC nations discussing forming EU like union
Leaders of the Gulf Cooperation Council are meeting in Riyadh Monday to discuss a Saudi proposal to develop their six-nation council into a union similar to the European Union.
The idea of a regional political, economic and security union was mooted by Saudi Arabia in December to replace the 31-year-old alliance.
Saudi King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud is host of the latest GCC summit.
The six nations of the GCC are Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.
Meanwhile, the London-based Al Hayat daily, quoting a senior Gulf source, said that Qatar and possibly Kuwait could join Bahrain and Saudi Arabia in forming the union.
The UAE and Oman would join at a later stage, the source said, explaining that "the brothers have their particular situations" and that "all countries have agreed on the Gulf union."
The union is likely to begin with the Saudi Arabia and unrest-hit Bahrain.
The GCC leaders "will discuss a form of union between Saudi Arabia and Bahrain," said a top Gulf official, requesting anonymity, according to AFP.
Bahrain has seen political protests and unrest since February last year, led largely by the majority Shia population demanding more democracy and an end to discrimination by the Sunni Muslim royal family.
The Saudi-Bahrain union is seen as a move aimed at countering Shia-majority, and regional rival, Iran.
Saudi analyst Anwar Eshqi, who heads the Jeddah-based Middle East Centre for Strategic and Legal Studies, was quoted by Al Arabiya as saying that the Saudi enthusiasm for a Gulf union was due to "pressure from Iran", which is accused of meddling in Gulf affairs.
Source: Germany News.Net
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