THE 17TH MINISTERIAL JOINT MEETING OF THE GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL AND EUROPEAN UNION WRAPPED UP HERE TONIGHT. PRINCE SAUD AL-FAISAL, THE FOREIGN MINISTER, LED SAUDI ARABIA'S DELEGATION TO THE MEETING. IN A JOINT COMMUNIQUE, THE MEETING UNDERSCORED THE IMPORTANCE OF STRENGTHENING RELATIONS BETWEEN THE TWO GROUPS, PARTICULARLY IN THE FIELDS OF ENERGY, EDUCATION SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY. IT WAS AGREED TO HOLD A SECOND ECONOMIC DIALOGUE MEETING IN 2007. THE COMMUNIQUE URGED NEGOTIATORS TO FINALIZE THE FREE TRADE AGREEMENT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. THE MEETING WAS BRIEFED ON THE OUTCOME OF JABER SUMMIT HELD IN DECEMBER 2006 IN RIYADH. THE TWO SIDES REVIEWED A NUMBER OF INTERNATIONAL ISSUES AND REGIONAL QUESTIONS OF MUTUAL CONCERN AIMING AT BOOSTING PEACE, SECURITY AND STABILITY IN THE REGION. --MORE
