Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image

Gulf States set to work on priorities

NZPA-Reuter Abu Dhabi The rulers of six Arab oil States are discussing policy priorities for the Gulf Cooperation Council which they formally set up yesterday to safeguard security and stability in the vital region. Heads of .State of Saudi Arabia. Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar. Oman and Bahrain signed the founding charter of the new organisation despite sharp differences over defence policy. Oman.had insisted that the council, devised as a framework for co-ordinating all Government policies, should give priority to military co-

operation rather than economic programmes, Gulf diplomats said. But the other States considered this impossible while the Sultanate gave military bases to the United . States. These States reject overt Western presence in the Gulf as provocative to the Soviet Union and favour working for stability by boosting cooperation in non-controver-sial fields such as the economy. health and education. Foreign Ministers of the six agreed in last-minute talks to shelve discussion of the Omani proposals to let . the council get under way, conference sources said.

This article text was automatically generated and may include errors. View the full page to see article in its original form.
Permanent link to this item

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19810527.2.84.7

Bibliographic details

Press, 27 May 1981, Page 8

Word Count
174

Gulf States set to work on priorities Press, 27 May 1981, Page 8

Gulf States set to work on priorities Press, 27 May 1981, Page 8