Symposium on Yemen-GCC future relations,Various viewpoints on advantages of Yemen accession to the GCC [Archives:2003/697/Reportage]

Yasser Mohammed Al-Mayyasi
Viewpoints were expressed by a number of Yemeni politicians and media men participating in the symposium ” Yemen and the GCC'' on advantage of Yemen's accession to the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC') organized in Sana'a on Wednesday by the Yemeni Center for Strategic Studies. While some of them were skeptical about the future importance for the GCC itself, others had called for enhancing the Yemeni-GCC relations and preparing Yemen to be qualified for joining the grouping and overcoming hindrances that intercept that. The symposium organized in cooperation with the German Friedrisch Ebert organization had discussed three working papers on future of Yemeni-Gulf relations the light of regional and international developments. The first working paper, presented by Dr Abduljaleel al-Soufi, professor of political geography at Thamar University, had tackled the strategic dimension of Yemen's accession to the GCC and the strategic benefits that it would be produced by that for both parties, especially the Gulf countries.
The paper had touched on the geopolitical future of the GCC after the accession of Yemen particularly after the events of 9/11 2001 and the American occupation of Iraq last April. The paper also made it clear that political, economic and military effects of regional and international developments impose a number of various dangers on the Arabian Peninsula a matter making Yemen's accession as an additional power to the GCC and an enhancement of the opportunities of its existence.
The second working paper presented by researcher Mansour al-Basheeri tackled reality of economic partnership between Yemen and the GCC countries and its future. The paper revealed development of the process of exchange of trade between the two parties till the Gulf countries have become representing a significant partner for Yemen in the recent years. As for Yemeni labour the paper had confirmed that the Gulf market was still importing millions of workforce from Asia and other areas and a large proportion of unskilled labour working in areas in need of skills, a matter that makes seeking help of Yemeni labour more important and useful for the Gulf societies, especially under the population, security and social dangers threatening the region.
The paper also dealt with appraisal of the practical steps that had been completed since the declaration of accepting Yemen's membership of some bureaus of the GCC, revealing that the steps taken I this regard were slow and not meeting ambitions of peoples. Membership of some Gulf bureaus had not been finished but in the last quarter of 2003 although the relations in the field of education had been characterized by taking better steps, most outstanding of which was unification of curricula of mathematics and sciences.
In the areas of exchanged visits the paper explained that topics discussed during mutual visits focused on bilateral relations between Yemen and each individual Gulf state but did not touch on Yemen's relationship with the Council as a regional organization. The topics also were limited to discussion of security and border aspects and ways of cooperation in fighting terror. The working paper had also called for rendering interest and attention for rehabilitation of Yemeni economy by reformulating and amending Yemeni laws in a manner compatible with Gulf laws so that to achieve economic partnership and benefit from the many and diversified Yemeni and Gulf economic constituents through building joint investment projects, preparation of investment climates, development of Yemeni human capabilities, increasing Gulf support for Yemen in development, strengthening inter-trade through offering favourite priority to Yemeni or Gulf producers inside local markets and removal of administrative hindrances and artificial barriers.
The third working paper dealt with future of the GCC under regional and international variables. The paper was written and presented by Dr Saif al-Assali. It had reviewed the Gulf security premonition that had led to the establishment of the GCC in the wake of the Islamic revolution and the Iraq -Iran war that constituted the most important motives for the establishment of the Council. The Gulf States have however failed inn achieving a genuine security integration protecting the region against dangers. The GCC experiment confirmed that it could not reach a united concept of security and foreign policy and consequently appeared big security and political variations in stands of Gulf States.
The paper pointed out that the region at this period was passing through acute changes and that the United States has decided to be owner of decision in the region due to its petroleum significance and non-existence of a regional power qualified for the leadership role in its stead.
As for future of the GCC the paper proposed a number of considerations through which to see its future. He most important of these considerations are the expected internal political and economic developments and the extent of the GCC states power in interaction positively with them and develop their political and economic options towards a broader popular participation and realization of real political stability. The paper had also indicated other effects determining future of the GCC such as anticipated regional and international developments that would have their impact on the Council's future.
The paper had finally tackled future of the relationship of Yemen with the GCC, calling for fulfillment of advanced Yemeni steps in the democratic field and investment in building man and stabilization of the state of law and order in order to qualify Yemen to deserving a real role inside the GCC.
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