KUWAIT: His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah has played a crucial role in ending the rift amongst GCC countries, said Qatari Ambassador to Kuwait Bandar Al-Attiya. Delivering a speech yesterday in a national Qatari celebration of founder of their country Sheikh Jassem bin Thani, Ambassador Attiya stressed that His Highness the Amir was one of the most important Arab and international figures especially within the humanitarian and peacemaking domains. He commended relations between Qatar and Kuwait, saying that both countries share similar views on regional and international issues. The two brotherly countries were also eager to boost relations in all possible domains to benefit their people, the region and world, he added. GCC leaders are to convene in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, tomorrow for the 40th Gulf Summit.

GCC FMs meet
Foreign Ministers of the six Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries hold today a preparatory meeting for the GCC Summit, due in Riyadh under presidency of Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud. The foreign ministers are expected to hold a closed-door meeting. The GCC Secretariat did not release any statement about agenda of the one-day meeting. However, issues like the Gulf crisis, Iran's interference in GCC affairs, attacks on oil tankers in the Arabian Gulf and oil facilities in Saudi Arabia, as well as securing maritime navigation are expected to feature high on the agenda. The top diplomats are also expected to discuss economic and social issues, as well as protests in Iraq and Lebanon, the situations in Yemen, Syria, Libya and Palestine. Founded in 1981, the GCC consists of Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Oman. - KUNA