Fears of Saudi Fascist dominance blocks closer Gulf union

Saudi fears block closer Gulf union
16 May, 2012 – Hurriyet Daily News

RIYADH – Gulf Arab leaders fail to agree on a closer political union to counter Iranian influence in the region. There are concerns about how much influence would be given to Saudi Arabia, and some members fear a loss of sovereignty
Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah (L) walks into the meeting hall with his Bahraini counterpart Hamad bin Issa al-Khalifa in Riyadh. AFP photo

Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah (L) walks into the meeting hall with his Bahraini counterpart Hamad bin Issa al-Khalifa in Riyadh. AFP photo
Gulf Arab countries failed to agree on further integration May 14 after a high-profile summit seen as part of Saudi efforts to counter Iran’s growing influence and Shiite Muslim discontent in Bahrain.

Gulf politicians had played up the idea that the Riyadh meeting would establish a closer union between Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, which sent troops in March last year to help Manama with an initial effort to squash the uprising. But Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud Al-Faisal, speaking after the two hour summit, told a news conference that talks on a possible union of six nations had been postponed until the next meeting in Bahrain in December.

“Leaders of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) have approved the call for a commission to continue studying in order to present final results (to a coming summit),” he said. “The issue will take time. The aim is for all countries to join, not just two or three. I’m hoping that the six countries will unite in the next meeting.” The council consists of Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, Oman and the United Arab Emirates. The union calls for economic, political and military coordination and a new decision-making body based in Riyadh, replacing the current GCC Secretariat. Bahraini Information Minister, Samira Rajab, said it could follow the “European Union model,” suggesting it would be primarily an economic confederation. …more