FNC speaker believes committees could help establish GCC parliament

Inter-parliamentary committees are proposed as the starting point for establishing a GCC parliament, the speaker of the FNC has said.

ABU DHABI // The speaker of the Federal National Council said yesterday that he would propose creating two inter-parliamentary committees as a starting point for establishing a GCC parliament. Abdul Aziz al Ghurair made his remarks in Muscat where he is attending the second meeting of the speakers of GCC Shoura councils, houses of representatives and parliaments. The meeting will conclude today.

One committee would conduct studies to help develop parliamentary practices in the Gulf states, Mr al Ghurair said, according to the state news agency, WAM. The second committee would be responsible for co-ordination and co-operation among Gulf parliamentary bodies in preparation for establishing a GCC parliament. Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed al Issa'ee, the speaker of the Omani Shura Council, said he hoped the parliamentary meeting would lay the foundation for regular meetings of GCC parliamentary bodies.

The leaders of the Gulf nations are to meet in the Omani capital next week to discuss, among other things, the international financial crisis, the falling price of oil and establishing a unified central bank for the GCC. [e-mail]