Bahrain’s King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa hailed the outcomes and decisions issued during the Gulf Cooperation Council’s (GCC) 41st Summit that was held in al-Ula on Tuesday.
He praised the great efforts by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and Crown Prince, Deputy Premier and Defense Minister Mohammed bin Salman to bolster cooperation among GCC states and push forward the joint action.
King Hamad further stressed the importance of preserving citizens’ rights and achieve the good for all.
He said the decisions will contribute to developing joint GCC action and enhancing cooperation and coordination among GCC states to meet the aspirations of brotherly GCC peoples for more unity, cooperation, and complementarity.
Meanwhile, Bahraini analysts and journalists have expressed their optimism with the summit’s final communique.
This historic moment will change the future of the Gulf system, they told Asharq Al-Awsat, describing it as a qualitative leap.
Bahraini writer and journalist Sawsan al-Shaer said the communique is a great beginning and shows efforts exerted by Saudi Arabia and Kuwait to heal the rift and achieve reconciliation and reunification.
Bahrain, the UAE, and Egypt have great confidence in Saudi Arabia, thus entrusting it to negotiate on their behalf.
According to President of the Bahraini Journalists Association Ahdeya al-Sayed, Qatar shall prove its good intentions, noting that Gulf citizens are keen to be assured of their security.
Gulf states expect Qatar to fight with them against terrorism and countries that target their security.
“We want to see actual steps translated on ground so that we all live in stability.”
Political Analyst Saad Rashid considered outcomes of the summit positive in a region that seeks to unify efforts and end the differences.
“We hope to see a clear statement on the end of supporting terrorist groups and entities and the intervention in the sovereignty of other countries,” he added.
GCC states have been facing challenges in the region from Iran, Rashid noted, adding that there is a new US administration and major regional political interactions that require unity in speech and efforts.
“Gulf states represent a major economic power in the world, and the al-Ula final statement is considered a qualitative leap in the areas of development in the Gulf,” he stated, noting that “everyone is optimistic”.
