"Iraq is not yet prepared to join the Gulf Cooperation Council and needs some time for unity and conciliation with its neighbors before being able to move on for cooperation and coordination with others," UAE Foreign Minister Rashed Al-Nuaimi said.
In a statement to Al-Sharq Al-Awsat, Al-Nuaimi said Iraq's ties with the GCC states during the ousted regime were based on doubts and fears but the future relations will be based on mutual interests.
Furthermore, he described the GCC as an open organization and in a permanent interaction with regional and international developments.
Al-Nuaimi told the paper that old fears and concerns from
the Iraqi regime are now gone and the future Iraqi regime will not repeat the past mistakes.
Security and stability of the region were the priority of the GCC's interests, Al-Nuaimi added. (Albawaba.com)
© 2003 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
