Bahrain reiterated its call to fast-track the transition from a phase of GCC co-operation to full-fledged union.

This came on the eve of the 34th GCC Summit, which will open today (December 10) in Kuwait and conclude tomorrow, said a report in the Gulf Daily News (GDN), our sister publication.

"The GCC union is all Arabian Gulf citizens' most cherished dream," His Royal Highness Prime Minister Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa said, as he received scholars, businessmen, journalists and citizens.

He called for a stronger partnership under the umbrella of the GCC Union to achieve joint interests and meet governments and peoples' aspirations.

The Premier described the 34th GCC Summit as defining, as it convenes amid critical regional, Arab and international shifts and highly complex challenges.

He stressed the economic leverage of the GCC, which would gain further clout and impetus with the establishment of the union.

"The GCC Union would be able to better serve people and protect their development momentum," he said, citing the examples of the European Union, African Union and the UAE, as models of unity.

The Premier said that the GCC countries would make up an entity to reckon with as they possess economic and political power to influence international decisions.

He strongly backed the call of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, saying that the union enables GCC to withstand enormous regional security, economic and political challenges.

"The people of the Arabian Gulf are awaiting the results of the 34th GCC Summit in Kuwait with great passion", he said, expressing confidence in the Gulf leaders' keenness on theirs countries' and peoples' vital interests.

"We don't see any cause for concern regarding the projected GCC Union", he said, adding that the massive union windfall would outweigh any concerns.

Meanwhile, in an interview with Kuwait News Agency (Kuna), he lamented the state of division among Arabs.

"We have to have clearer policies to make the changes that we want and not what others want," he said.

"It is a win-win situation that we should move to with the objective of achieving sustainable regional security."

He called for a deeper GCC and pan-Arab understanding to advocate their common causes and better serve their interests.

The Premier also hailed Kuwait's key role in the GCC. - TradeArabia News Service