GCC Past Paper (History)

**Flag** **Common name** **Type of government** **in English** **in Romanized ** **Arabic** Bahrain Kingdom of Bahrain *Mamlakat al-Baḥrayn* Constitutional monarchy Kuwait State of Kuwait *Dawlat al-Kuwayt* Parliamentary system, Constitutional monarchy Oman Sultanate of Oman *Saltana...

**Flag** **Common name** **Type of government** **in English** **in Romanized ** **Arabic** Bahrain Kingdom of Bahrain *Mamlakat al-Baḥrayn* Constitutional monarchy Kuwait State of Kuwait *Dawlat al-Kuwayt* Parliamentary system, Constitutional monarchy Oman Sultanate of Oman *Saltanat ʻUman* Absolute monarchy Qatar State of Qatar *Dawlat Qaṭar* Constitutional monarchy Saudi Arabia Kingdom of Saudi Arabia *Al-Mamlaka al-ʻArabiyya as-Suʻūdiyya* Absolute monarchy United Arab Emirates United Arab Emirates *Al-Imārāt al-'Arabīyah al-Muttaḥidah* Federal monarchy, Absolute monarchy Secretaries-General: ------------------------------- ----------------------------------- ---------------------- **Tenure** **Name** **Country** 26 May 1981 -- April 1993 Abdullah Bishara Kuwait April 1993 -- April 1996 Fahim bin Sultan Qasimi United Arab Emirates April 1996 -- 31 March 2002 Jamil Ibrahim Hejailan Saudi Arabia 1 April 2002 -- 31 March 2011 Abdul Rahman bin Hamad Al Attiyah Qatar 1 April 2011 -- present Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani Bahrain ------------------------------- ----------------------------------- ---------------------- Logo The logo of the GCC consists of two concentric circles. On the upper part of the larger circle, the Bismillah phrase is written in Arabic, which means \"In the name of God\", and on the lower part the Council\'s full name, in Arabic. The inner circle contains an embossed hexagonal shape that represents the Council\'s six member countries. The inside of the hexagon is filled by a map encompassing the Arabian Peninsula, on which the areas of the member countries are borderless and colored in brown. On the edge of the hexagon are colors representing the flags of the six member countries. Founding:\ The council established on 25 May 1981 on the basis of an agreement concluded in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) is an economic and political group composed of the Gulf States of Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The GCC, which comprises the core of the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, spans a total area of 2.5 million square kilometers and, in 2008, had a combined population of about 38.6 million and Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of US\$1.054 trillion. The GCC controls more than half of the oil reserves of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and, along with Iran and Iraq, accounts for more than 30 per cent of the world\'s crude oil exports. Given the key role of oil in the world\'s economy, the development of the region and of the GCC, in particular, has global importance. While they experience high growth rates, the economies of the GCC are poorly diversified due to their heavy reliance on hydrocarbon resources. From 2004 to 2008, the GCC had an average real GDP growth rate of 6.9 per cent, derived mainly from oil and gas exports. Oil primacy in national agendas generally affects the overall prosperity of most GCC states. Bahrain and Oman --- the only two non-OPEC states in the GCC --- need higher break-even oil prices in order to have the balanced budgets that are necessary to sustain growth. Given their relatively similar economic structures, trade among GCC member states is quite limited --- at about 10 per cent of total exports or around 5 per cent of total GDP. The development of the GCC has its roots in politico-economic events that took place in the wider Middle East region. The oil crisis in the 1970s and the 1979 Iranian Revolution traumatized GCC member states. In addition, various Middle East conflicts, such as the 1980 to 1988 Iran-Iraq War and Saddam Hussein\'s invasion of Kuwait in 1990--91, were key factors that shaped GCC efforts towards economic integration. Objectives: 1\. To effect co-ordination, integration and inter-connection between member states in all fields in order to achieve unity between them. 2\. To deepen and strengthen relations, links and areas of cooperation now prevailing between their peoples in various fields. 3\. To formulate similar regulations in various fields including the following: A. Economic and financial affairs. B. Commerce, customs and communications. C. Education and culture. D. Social and health affairs. E. Information and tourism. F. Legislative and administrative affairs. 4.To stimulate scientific and technological progress in the fields of industry , mining, agriculture , water and animal resources: to establish scientific research : to establish joint ventures and encourage cooperation by the private sector for the good of their peoples.​​ Other Objectives: Other stated objectives include: Formulating similar regulations in various fields such as religion, finance, trade, customs, tourism, legislation, and administration Fostering scientific and technical progress in industry, mining, agriculture, water and animal resources Establishing scientific research centers Setting up joint ventures Unified military (Peninsula Shield Force) Encouraging cooperation of the private sector Strengthening ties between their people Achievements: Economic Cooperation Cooperation in the field of Human and Environment Affairs Security Cooperation Media Cooperation Legal and Judicial Cooperation Political Affairs Regional Cooperation and Economic Relations with other Countries and Groupings Strategic dialogues with countries and regional groups Economic Cooperation: Cooperation in the Field of Agriculture Cooperation in the Field of Energy Cooperation in the Field of Planning, Statistics and Development Cooperation in the Field of Telecommunications Cooperation in the Field of Transportation and Communications Cooperation in the fight against harmful practices in international trade Cooperation in the Prevention of Injurious Practices in International Trade Cooperation in Trade Financial and Economic Cooperation Joint Action Process The Customs Union The GCC Common Market and Economic nationality The Monetary Union and the Single Currency Cooperation in the field of Human and Environment Affairs: Cooperation in education Scientific and Technical Cooperation Cooperation in the field of employment and social services Joint Social Action Environmental Cooperation Cooperation in the Filed of Health Security Cooperation: First, the overall security strategy Second, the security agreement Third, to facilitate the movement and flow of goods Fourth: Cooperation in the field of counter-terrorism Fifth: Cooperation in the field of civil defense Sixth: Cooperation in the face of nuclear and radiological risks Seventh: cooperation in the fight against drugs Eighth: Cooperation in the field of criminal investigations and detective Tenth: Cooperation in the field of border guards and coast guard Eleventh: Cooperation in the field of penal and correctional institutions Twelfth: education and security training Thirteenth: Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf Security Research Award Fourteenth: media security Fifteenth: Industrial Security and Facility Protection Sixteenth Sport: police Seventeenth: Risk Management Political Affairs - Major achievements in the field of foreign policy: Contribute to encircle and ending the Iran-Iraq war Kuwait liberated Support for the unity and stability of Yemen and career development The situation between the State of Kuwait and the Republic of Iraq Support the issue of the three occupied islands of the United Arab Emirates Relations with Iran Iran nuclear crisis Supporting the Palestinian cause and the peace process Support of the Syrian Arab Republic in the occupied Golan Support for Lebanon Somali affairs The situation in Sudan Development and modernization in the Arab world Dialogue with friendly countries and international groups Events in Bahrain Solution to the Syrian crisis and to meet the aspirations of the Syrian people Support for the Libyan people and their aspirations.