On behalf of Prince Saud Al-Faisal, Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Chairman of the Institute of Diplomatic Studies, Prince Abdulaziz bin Abdullah bin Abdulaziz, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs opened here today 'The Conference of Gulf Youth, Arab Gulf States From Cooperation to Union,' organized by the Institute for Diplomatic Studies. Addressing the Conference, Prince Saud Al-Faisal, Minister of Foreign Affairs said in a speech delivered on his behalf by Prince Abdulaziz bin Abdullah bin Abdulaziz, 'Our guests, Gulf youth, our conference is held at a time when most of the attention of the leaders, and decision-makers, and thinkers is to look after how to face current challenges and developments at political, social, economic arenas, and their effects on our countries and peoples. The escalation of confrontation between Iran and the international community over its nuclear program, its constant provocation of GCC countries in particular, continued sufferings of the Palestinian people, and the implications of what is happing in a number of countries in the region of wide political changes in the context of what has become known as the 'Arab spring', all these developments require us to pause for reflection and a strong will to deal with them in the interest of GCC states, the unity of their territories, territorial integrity, civil peace, stability and growth. He added, 'These threats of all kinds require the hard works of the GCC countries to shift from a current formula of cooperation to a union formula acceptable to the six countries that ensures their security, stability and durability of the economy in view of what Arab Gulf region enjoys of great importance due to its important strategic location and its possession of large reserves of oil and gas, which are the most important sources of energy in the world, in addition to increasing challenges and risks faced by the Arab Gulf, as well as the experiences of the former crises and challenges which proved to everyone that it is hard to deal individually by the Cooperation Council for the Arab Gulf States with those crises . Prince Saudi said, 'In the midst of what is surrounding GCC States of the developments, changes and threats to their stability, security and achievements, Saudi Arabia recognized the importance of the transition from one formula of cooperation to the Union formula. This is the Union initiative called for by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud in his opening address to the 32nd GCC summit in Riyadh. He added, 'GCC's positive response was reflected by the adoption of the GCC summit of the initiative formally, and also reflected in the degree of interest in this proposal and the start of the procedures for its implementation, through the formation of a joint study commission, agreement on the mechanisms of action and forwarding the results to the next consultative summit. Prince Saud Al-Faisal said 'Our guests, our GCC youth, no doubt that the march of integration and cooperation of the GCC States is a successful experience at both the Arab and Muslim levels. The survival of the Council itself, its achievement of numerous accomplishments and its tackling of many challenges indicate the strength of the GCC , but the shift to the status of union would give greater impetus to the march of the GCC, and gives the GCC countries more weightage and standing compatible with their elements of soft- power, material resources and geo-strategic importance.' He also asserted that the GCC union if achieved will lead to big gains for the benefit of our peoples. In the area of ??foreign policy, the existence of a GCC supreme body coordinating foreign policy decisions will collectively rearrange priorities of these countries realizing their collective interests. When the six GCC states collectively negotiate with other states in a federal structure, this will strengthen the bargaining power of our countries in a way that cannot be provided by the individual move which is void of tools of collective pressure. In the area of ??defense, the defense integration is a key guarantee to the security of the GCC states as an alternative to the defense policy based on temporary alliances of passing interests as those alliances remain linked to those interests which inherently are variable. Defense integration will be a prelude to security coordination. In the economic field, the union of the type sought, will make the GCC countries a powerful economic bloc with a GDP in 2011 reaching more than US $1.4 trillion and a single market strength of 42 million people. Prince Saud Al-Faisal highlighted the importance of the youth in societies saying that more than 65% of the total population of our countries are under the age of 30 years.
