Regional turmoil in focus at GCC summit

Leaders of the six-member Gulf Cooperation Council will meet here Monday for their annual summit conference to discuss major regional and international issues and explore prospects for strengthening their relations. Speaking to reporters, GCC Secretary-General Abdullatif Al-Zayani said the GCC leaders would discuss issues such as Iran’s nuclear program, turmoil in the Arab world and the GCC initiative to end Yemen’s crisis. “We’ll also present a report to the summit leaders on promoting strategic relations with Morocco and Jordan,” the GCC chief said, adding that the summit would adopt a number of resolutions to strengthen economic and trade ties. Meanwhile, Yemeni Foreign Minister Abu Bakr Al-Kurbi said his country was seeking financial support from the GCC over the next two years. “Our brothers in the GCC feel they should provide financial and development support to Yemen, especially during the next two years,” Al-Kurbi told reporters in Riyadh. “We have reached a political agreement (in Yemen) but we need more cooperation from our Gulf brothers on economy and security issues,” Al-Kurbi said.