GCC states discuss establishing closer political union

King Faisal arriving for GCC meeting of foreign ministers in Riyadh Establishing a closer political union of Gulf countries tops the agenda of Monday\'s Gulf nations\' summit in Riyadh. The convention of the 14th consultative Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) will see leaders

from the group\'s six member states discuss key regional issues, including the economy and defence.
However, citing a senior Gulf source, the London-based Al Hayat daily said, hours before the advisory summit opened, that Qatar and possibly Kuwait could join Bahrain and Saudi Arabia in announcing their intention to be part of the union core.
The UAE and Oman would join at a later stage, the source that the paper did not identify said, explaining that “the brothers have their particular situations”, and adding that “all countries have agreed on the Gulf union”.
The GCC countries have demonstrated a strong unity in their political and security positions on the events in Bahrain and the standoff between the UAE and Iran on the UAE islands, the source said.
“The bitter experiences in some of the GCC countries should be a strong motivation to join the union,” the source said.
 During the last summit, King Abdullah, Saudi Arabia\'s ruling monarch, called for transforming the group from a cooperation to a union.
GCC leaders are expected to move to create a European Union style \"Gulf Union\".
The proposal was welcomed by some GCC states, who described it as \"meeting the aspirations of the people in the Gulf\".
The move towards closer integration was also backed by the Bahraini prime minister who arrived in the Saudi capital on Sunday.
“The great dream of the region\'s peoples is to see the day when borders disappear with a union that creates one Gulf,” Sheikh Khalifa Bin Salman Al-Khalifa was quoted as saying by the Bahrain News Agency.
 A meeting the day before between the region\'s foreign ministers also reviewed Arab and international developments that concern the GCC as a bloc. Regional issues like aid to neighbouring countries and the GCC railway network were also discussed.
Manama maintained that Gulf Arab leaders were ready for closer ties on security and foreign policy issues to confront pressures such as uprisings in some Arab states and tensions with Iran.
Proposals have included more open borders and a regional defence force.
The meeting is expected to announce a closer political union, starting with two or three countries including Saudi Arabia and Bahrain, Bahrain’s information minister Samira Rajab said.
“I expect there will be an announcement of two or three countries. We can’t be sure but I have a strong expectation,” Rajab said.
“Each country will retain their sovereignty and will remain UN members but will unite in decisions regarding foreign relations, security, military and the economy.”
However, the nation\'s Shiite opposition is demanding the proposal be put to a referendum.
Sheikh Ali Salman, the leader of Bahrain\'s main Shiite opposition formation, Al-Wefaq, has criticised the project which he said must first be subjected to a referendum that should take place in all GCC states.
\"Bahrain gained its independence (in 1971) following a referendum\" overseen by the United Nations, said Salman in a speech on Sunday.
\"The people of Bahrain alone have the right to\" decide, he said, adding the kingdom\'s ruling \"Al-Khalifa (dynasty) has no right to decide a union or confederation with any country.\"
Bahrain has been witnessing public protests by the Shiite population of the country against the ruling Sunni regime led by the al-Khalifa family, while the regime accuses Iran of being behind these protests.
For his part, the deputy head of the Bahranian Advisory Council has ruled out the prospect of reaching a union between the country and Saudi Arabia for the present, saying that \"agreeing on a united foreign policy between Gulf countries will not be that easy, unless this agreement applies to only certain issues.\"
The idea of the GCC nations to integrate into one entity was first floated by Saudi Arabia in December last year.           
The GCC was formed in 1981 when the Sunni-dominated monarchies aimed to bolster security after the 1979 Islamic revolution in Iran which was followed by war with Iraq.
The tension between Shiite Iran and Sunni Saudi Arabia escalated last year when Saudi troops rolled into Bahrain to help quell protests in the Sunni-ruled state which were driven by the Shiite majority.
A committee made up of three representatives from each of the six member states -- the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar and Oman -- will submit its findings on the proposed union to Monday\'s meeting.