Analysis: GCC 39th Summit Offers Hope to End Arab Crisis

By Nawal Sayed

CAIRO, Nov. 19 (SEE)- The six-Gulf Cooperation Council annual summit will take place in Riyadh on December 9, despite June-row between Qatar and three Gulf States and Egypt.

"The 39th GCC summit may be an opportunity to end the rift within the group," Kuwait's deputy foreign minister was quoted as saying by state news agency KUNA.

Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and non-GCC member Egypt have imposed sanctions on GCC member Qatar accusing it of cozying up to their regional rival Iran and supporting terrorism.

[caption id="attachment_23648" align="aligncenter" width="467"]         Bahraini Assistant Foreign Minister Abdullah bin Faisal bin  Jabur Al Doseri - Press Photo[/caption]

At last year's GCC summit, held in Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Bahrain sent ministers or deputy prime ministers, rather than heads of state.

Kuwait's Deputy Foreign Minister Khalid al-Jarallah expressed optimism that this year's summit will see a high level of representation from all member states.

"This summit is a glimpse of hope to revive the efforts of containing the long-standing Gulf dispute", al-Jarallah said.

Arab-Quartet Boycott.

On June 5, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain decided to cut all diplomatic ties with Qatar, hurling allegations that the state destabilizes the region by supporting terrorism and allying with the regional foe Iran.

Kuwait led mediation efforts to resolve the Gulf crisis, and Qatar.

[caption id="attachment_23649" align="aligncenter" width="440"]         Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani is seen as he speaks to members of Qatar's Shoura Council in Doha, Qatar, November 14, 2017-REUTERS/Archive[/caption]

In October, 2017, Bahrain openly called for Qatar's membership of the GCC to be suspended until it accepts the Arab Quartet's demands.

In Dec., 2017, the United Arab Emirates announced it had formed a new economic and partnership group with Saudi Arabia, separate from the GCC— a move that could undermine the council amid a diplomatic crisis with member state Qatar.

The Emirati Foreign Ministry announcement said the new "joint cooperation committee" was approved by the UAE’s ruler and President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al-Nayhan.

The Emirati ministry said the new "committee is assigned to cooperate and coordinate between the UAE and Saudi Arabia in all military, political, economic, trade and cultural fields, as well as other fields, in the interest of the two countries."

The GCC was founded in 1981 representing a Gulf political and economic union grouping Qatar with Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates as well as Oman and Kuwait.

[caption id="attachment_23656" align="aligncenter" width="506"]        Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir (L), at the 38th GCC summit and Kuwaiti Emir Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Sabah (R), December 5, 2017-Press Photo[/caption]