Gulf Arab states are expected to ratify in Kuwait a "counter-terrorism pact" to strengthen security coordination between the oil-rich monarchies.
Interior ministers of Bahrain, host country Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, which make up the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) will ink the pact at a special ceremony.
The accord, given the green signal at the GCC summit in Kuwait last December, will primarily facilitate a faster exchange of intelligence information between security agencies of the Gulf states.
"This is the most important agreement to be signed since the foundation of the Gulf Cooperation Council states" in 1981, GCC Secretary General Abdulrahman Attiya told reporters as he arrived in Kuwait Monday.
"The agreement deals with (boosting) coordination and cooperation in combating terrorism... It will have an impact on internal security and in safeguarding" stability of the GCC member states, he added. (Albawaba.com)
© 2004 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
