GCC calls for Iran's efforts for regional security

www.chinaview.cn 2005-11-27 22:54:21

KUWAIT CITY, Nov. 27 (Xinhuanet) -- The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states on Sunday in Doha demanded Iran to work on enforcing stability and security in the region, the Qatar News Agency reported.

    The GCC made the call in Doha, Qatar, at the final session of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Parliamentary Assembly conference regarding the Greater Middle East Initiative. GCC Secretary General Abdulrahman Al-Attiyah was quoted assaying that there were political problems between Iran and the GCC, foremost Tehran's occupation of three islands of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), a GCC member, and Iran's rejection to any settlement proposed by the UAE.

    The issue of Iran and the GCC was a current priority because it was directly linked to regional security, he said, calling on both sides to think about practical measures to realizing security without interference in internal affairs of each others. Talking about Iran's nuclear issue, Al-Attiyah asserted that the nuclear weapons in the region would trigger an unjustified nuclear race thus undermine mutual confidence, adding the NATO is sharing the same concerns with the Gulf region.

    The GCC chief, meanwhile, called on Iran to help the political process in Iraq, voicing concern on Iran's regional ambitions. NATO Parliamentary Assembly began its Doha meeting on Saturday. Arab and NATO lawmakers attended the two-day gathering which had discuss regional security strategies, impact of escalating tension in Iraq on the region as well as political and social reforms in GCC states and Iran.

    Addressing the opening meeting on Saturday, the host Qatari Foreign Minister Sheikh Hamad Bin Jassim Bin Jabir al-Thani said that the meeting is to create dialogue and exchange opinions over Mideast issues, especially security in the Gulf region. Enditem