(MENAFN- Kuwait News Agency (KUNA)) The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries experienced a large number of major events during 2014, covering diverse domains at bilateral and collective levels.
Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) is publishing its year-end report regarding the key events that took place in the other five GCC countries, in addition to those concerning the GCC Secretariat General.
The GCC Summit in Doha: Dec 9: Leaders of the GCC countries held their 35th summit in Doha, Qatar, amidst hopes the high-level meeting would launch a new phase of common action.
The Doha Declaration called for a new beginning for the common action among member countries to confront security challenges.
The declaration called for improving living conditions of the GCC citizens, as well as showing solidarity among each other in line with the principles of Islamic and Arabic identity.
The Arab Gulf leaders decided to establish a Police Force based in Abu Dhabi, the UAE capital.
They also established a Navy Force.
The leaders approved the Human Rights Declaration of the GCC. They called for further integration in economic field, rejected all forms of terrorism and violence, reiterated support to the UAE's sovereignty over three islands occupied by Iran.
The Arab Gulf leaders also called on parties in Yemen to solve their differences peacefully and in line with the GCC initiative. They called for complete cessation of violence in Libya, and reaffirmed firm support for the Palestinian people's right to establish their independent state with East Jerusalem as its capital.
Secretariat General: Jan 15: GCC and Singapore concluded in Riyadh their first meeting to discuss mechanisms of implementing the joint free trade agreement.
June 18: The Consultative Authority of the GCC Supreme Council held a meeting in Muscat, Oman, to discuss reports of a committee tasked with studying the human development in the GCC countries.
Nov 16: GCC leaders agrees in a meeting in Riyadh on return of the ambassadors of Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Bahrain to Qatar.
Resolutions and Agreements:
Jan 21: GCC Secretary General Abdullatif Al-Zayani signed with New Zealander Foreign Minister Murray McCully in Riyadh a memorandum of understanding on boosting bilateral relations in various domains.
Feb 11: The GCC Interconnection Authority (GCCIA) inked in Abu Dhabi an agreement with CESI Middle East, a major market player in consultancy and engineering, to provide the GCCAI with a wide-array of technical services.
March 5: GCC Secretary General Abdullatif Al-Zayani hammered out in Riyadh a memorandum of understanding with Mexico's Foreign Minister Jose Antonio Meade Kuribrena over GCC General Secretariat's consultation with Mexican Foreign Ministry.
April 17: GCC Foreign Ministers approved a mechanism to implement the Riyadh Document, which is based on the principles of the GCC Charter.
Sept 17: The Arabian Gulf development fund (AGFUND) and the World Health Organization (WH) signed an agreement to boost the vaccination program in Zimbabwe
Ministerial Council:
March 4: GCC Ministerial Council concluded 130th meeting in Riyadh with a statement expressing support for the UN Security Council resolutions 2013/2107 assigning the UN Assistance Mission in Iraq (UNAMI) with files of Kuwaiti missing and POWs and archive.
April 17: GCC countries agreed in a meeting in Riyadh to unify their policies in a way will not undermine sovereignty, interest, security and stability of any member country.
June 2: GCC Foreign Ministers welcomed His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah's historic visit to Iran, and expressed keenness on the positive impacts of the visit on relations between the two sides.
Aug 30: The Foreign Ministers congratulated His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah for the UN honoring as a Humanitarian Leader and Kuwait as a Humanitarian Center.
Sept 11: Regional foreign ministers met in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, to discuss terrorism in the Middle East. Foreign ministers of the six GCC countries, Egypt, Jordan, Turkey, Iraq, Lebanon and the US, attend the meeting.
Oct 26: GCC ministerial committee in charge of implementation of GCC resolutions met in Riyadh to speed up the process of setting these resolutions in motion.
Nov 25: GCC Foreign Ministers endorsed a number of recommendations at the 4th meeting of the joint committee between GCC states, Jordan, and Morocco which took place in Kuwait in Oct 2014.
Other meetings:
Jan 8: The board members of the Statistical Center of the Gulf Cooperation Council member states convened in Muscat to tackle a number of administrative and technical issues.
Feb 6: Undersecretaries of youth and sports in GCC states held semi-annual meeting in Manama.
March 12: The 8th Annual Forum of GCC Accounting & Auditing Organization concluded in Riyadh. The forum discussed the accounting and auditing profession and their role in economic development.
March 30: The Sultanate of Oman hosted the 14th GCC Industrialists' Conference under the theme of "Industrial Exports: Opportunities & Challenges". The two-day event tackled the opportunities and challenges of the industrial exports of the GCC countries as well as the investment in the industrial sector.
April: Some meetings were held during this month that aimed at bolstering cooperation among the six GCC countries in the fields of environmental media, legislations, sustainable development and social services.
May 4: Omani Chamber of Commerce and Industry organized a forum about the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between the GCC countries and Singapore.
May 5: GCC Media Security Committee met in Riyadh to discuss future security and traffic plans.
May 6: Justice Undersecretaries discussed, in a meeting in Riyadh, a report about family affairs.
May 27: Directors of drug enforcement departments met in Riyadh.
June 4: Doha hosted meetings of a technical committee discussing requirements of the oil and gas sectors.
June 10: Participants in a standing committee of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs approved a Kuwaiti paper about the formulation of common vision and strategy.
Aug 13: Ministers of Health held an urgent meeting and recommended the development of Gulf plan to test and treat Ebola patients, as well as activating the early warning system.
Sept 3: Ministerial Health Safety Committee met in Riyadh, capital of Saudi Arabia, to discuss means of confronting all challenges facing food safety.
Nov 26: The executive council of GCC ministers of health met in Riyadh to prepare for the 78th conference for GCC health ministers' council.
Dec 1: GCC committee for joint grid met in Riyadh, stressing the importance of activating trade in energy among GCC states.
Dec 1: Heads of GCC national assemblies, shura councils, and parliaments agreed in their 8th meeting to form a joint parliamentary committee to boost relations with the European Parliament.
Agreements:
Jan 2: Saudi Arabia and India signed an agreement relative to the Indian expats in the Saudi Kingdom, estimated at 2.8 million.
Feb 17: Saudi Arabia and Pakistan inked two agreements in Islamabad to provide a total of USD 183 million to Pakistan for the export of urea fertilizer and the construction of a hydro-power project in Pakistan's northern Chitral.
Feb 27: Saudi Arabia and India signed an agreement for military cooperation in the fields of training, and exchange of expertise and visits of military personnel.
April 9: Saudi Arabia and Britain signed four agreements valued 850 million Pounds to establish 12 institutions in the Kingdom.
Nov 21: Saudi Arabia and Russia signed an agreement to form a joint committee to fight terrorism.
Disasters: Jan 23: One person was killed and 12 injured in an explosion at a restaurant in Riyadh, caused by gas leakage.
Feb 8: Up to 13 people died in a fire at a hotel in the Saudi holy city of Medina.
May 4: Two persons lost their life in a fire at a power station in the northern city of Ha'el.
May 13: Eleven people perished in a fire at a carpenter workshop in western Riyadh.
June 3: The Health Ministry announced that 688 people were infected with coronavirus, including 282 who passed away.
Aug 6: Ministry of Health announced death of a suspected Ebola patient in Jeddah.
Aug 26: Five people died in a a gas cylinder explosion at Prince Mohammad bin Abdulaziz Hospital in the city of Medina.
Nov 3: Ministry of health said the number of those afflicted with the coronavirus had reached 791 since its break-out in September 2012.
Aid: July 1: King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz ordered allocation of USD 500 million in humanitarian aid for the Iraqi people.
July 13: King Abdullah ordered earmarking USD 200 million for the Palestinian Red Crescent in Gaza Strip.
July 25: The Saudi Monarch instructed allocation of 100 million Saudi Riyals for the Palestinian Health Ministry to address medicine shortage in Gaza.
Aug 17: Saudi Arabia offered an additional USD one million in food assistance for the West Bank.
Oman: Conferences and Events: March 18: The fourth edition of Oman Economic Forum took place on the 18th and 19th of March 2014 in Muscat, amid a large number of attending Arab and international personalties.
March 20: The joint Omani-Qatari committee convened to discuss boosting cooperation in a number of fields, especially economy.
Internal Affairs: Jan 7: Omani police arrested 200 illegal migrants and deported 250 others.
March 16: Omani authorities arrested over 170 illegal migrants.
Dec 1: Oman Air celebrated receiving two new airplanes into its fleet, the first was an Airbus A330-300 and the second was a Boeing 737-900.
Agreements:
March 12: Oman and Iran signed three agreements related to a joint gas pipeline project, cooperation in labor, employment and vocational training.
June 30: Oman and Spain signed an agreement to avert dual taxation and income tax evasion.
June 23: The World Bank said Oman achieved the best performance in the Middle East and North African (MENA) region in terms of children mortality rate since 1970.
Nov 20: Oman signed three agreements on joining the GCC Electricity Grid System Interconnection.
The United Arab Emirates (UAE): Disasters: Feb 27: A UAE military plane crashed during a routine training mission, killing the pilot and co-pilot.
Internal Affairs: Jan 19: UAE issued a law on compulsory military service for men. The law made conscription optional for women.
Jan 25: UAE President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al-Nahyan suffered stroke and underwent a surgery.
May 18: Dubai Electricity and Water Authority launched a project to establish electrical cars recharging stations in the Emirate.
July 5: Dubai Ruler Sheikh Mohammad bin Rashed Al-Maktoum launched the "World Mall" project to build the world's largest shopping center, designed to receive 180 million visitors every year.
July 16: President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al-Nahyan announced the establishment of the UAE Space Agency and to begin preparations to send the first Arab and Islamic rover to Mars.
July 23: Sheikh Mohammad bin Rashed Al-Maktoum opened Mohammad bin Rashed Center for Printing the Holy Quran.
Aug 16: Dubai International Airport launched the renovation of the airport two runways in no more than 80 days and without obstructing flights. The project was the largest in civil aviation's history.
External Affairs: Jan 28: Indian Government assured the UAE on addressing problems facing UAE investors in the Asian country.
Feb 27: European Parliament allowed UAE citizens visa-free travel to EU countries.
March 5: The UAE Foreign Ministry announced exempting citizens of 13 European Union member states from requiring a pre-entry visa to the country.
March 12: The UAE Foreign Ministry summoned the Iraqi ambassador and handed him a memo criticizing the remarks of Prime Minister Nouri Al-Maliki in which he accused the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia of supporting terrorism.
March 25: Sudan waived visa requirement for UAE businessmen.
Sept 29: French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius appointed former Trade Minister a special representative for trade relations with the UAE.
Aid: July 10: UAE donated USD 25 million to help the Palestinian people following the Israeli 50-day aggression on Gaza Strip.
Oct 2: UAE donated USD five million to help west African nations fight the Ebola virus.
Agreements:
Jan 9: The UAE and Ireland hammered out a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for higher education and scientific research cooperation.
Jan 15: The UAE offered Serbia a three billion euro loan, under favorable conditions, to finance development and reform projects.
Feb 26: Abu Dhabi Fund for Development, ADFD, signed a loan agreement with the government of Zambia, by which ADFD will provide 36.7 million dirhams to contribute to establishing three colleges.
March 6: The UAE inked an agreement with Serbian Government as per which the UAE offered Serbia one billion euros in loan, under preferential conditions, to establish a tourist city and modern malls in Belgrade.
March 9: Abu Dhabi Fund for Development, ADFD, signed a loan agreement with the government of Serbia, by which ADFD will provide USD 97 million to finance agricultural projects in Serbia.
March 16: Abu Dhabi government hammered out an agreement with Dubai government to offer Dubai USD 10 billion to refinance a loan. The Central Bank of the UAE also signed an accord for re-discounting of bonds issued by Dubai government worth USD 10 billion.
April 14: The UAE and Australia activated a peaceful nuclear energy agreement.
April 15: UAE and Iranian foreign ministers signed an MoU in sports and business sectors.
May 18: UAE and Malaysia signed a cooperation agreement, stipulating cooperation in tourism, education, scientific research, establishment of mosques and Islamic Centers.
May 26: Abu Dhabi Development Fund lent Mauritania USD five million to back renewable energy projects.
June 16: UAE and Saudi Arabia signed an energy agreement.
Nov 6: UAE signed in Abu Dhabi a military cooperation pact with Somalia.
Nov 15: The UAE foreign minister signed with his Colombian counterpart an agreement on exempting bearers of diplomatic passports from entry visas to each other's country.
Sport: Nov 16: UAE volleyball team won the championship of the 3rd Female Gulf Volleyball Tournament, held in Manama, Bahrain.
Bahrain:
Terrorism: Feb 14: A terrorist bomb explosion killed two policemen near the capital.
Feb 15: Bahraini security forces arrested 26 rioters suspected of involvement in vandalism, violence and road blocking.
March 3: Three policemen were killed in a bombing attack targeting a police patrol north of the capital Manama.
March 11: Two policemen were injured in an attack with a home-made bomb on their convoy east of Manama.
March 13: An Asian expat was seriously injured when a group of terrorists threw a moltov cocktail bomb on him at Sar neighborhood, north of Manama.
April 19: Two persons were killed and another injured in a car explosion n Muqasha' area.
July 5: A security man was killed in a terrorist attack south of the capital city, Manama.
Nov 26: Bahraini Ministry of Interior said a terrorist bombing occurred north of the capital Manama injuring two policemen.
Dec 9: A Bahraini citizen died and an Asian person was injured in an explosion in Karzakhan village.
Internal Affairs: Jan 15: The Bahraini Government announced an agreement with parties involved in national dialogue to usher a new stage of national dialogue and to upgrade representation levels.
March 5: The Bahraini Government established the Martyrs of Duty Fund to pay homage to the martyrs of duty who sacrificed their lives for the sake of the nation. The government also allocated one million Bahraini dinars for the fund.
May 20: Thirty-one MPs of the 40-seat House of Representatives voted in favor of canceling membership of Osama Muhanna.
Nov 22: Parliamentary and municipal elections kicked off in Bahrain with 419 candidates.
Nov 22: Bahraini Minister of Justice and Islamic Affairs and Awqaf Sheikh Khaled bin Ali Al-Khalifa announced 51.5 percent of eligible voters participated in the parliamentary elections.
Nov 23: Six candidates won the parliamentary elections - representing 40 constituents.
Nov 29: Bahraini Minister of Justice, Islamic Affairs and Awqaf Sheikh Khaled bin Ali Al-Khalifa announced 52.6 percent of the eligible voters took part in the runoff, in 34 constituencies, out of 40.
Nov 30: Bahraini Prime Minister Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al-Khalifa resigned following the conclusion of the parliamentary elections.
Dec 6: King Hamad signed a decree to form a new government.
greements:
Feb 19: Bahrain and India signed an agreement on forming a higher joint committee to beef up bilateral relations.
Feb 28: Bahrain and the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) hammered out a new agreement to strengthen cooperation on combating drug trafficking and crimes in the Gulf region.
March 18: Bahrain and Pakistan inked six agreements in Islamabad to boost cooperation in agricultural, trade, energy, investment and aviation domains.
March 19: Bahrain and Pakistan signed 15 MoUs to buttress trade and investment relations.
April 8: Bahrain and Britain signed an MoU to boost cooperation in field of Islamic finance and services.
Economy: Jan 16: Gulf Air, the national carrier of Bahrain, signed a five-year USD 100 million agreement to extend Rolls-Royce TotalCare support for its fleet of six A330 aircraft powered by Trent 700 engines.
Qatar: Internal Affairs: Nov 11: Amir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani issued a decree to appoint Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad Al-Thani as his deputy.
External Affairs: March 5: The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and the Kingdom of Bahrain withdrew ambassadors from Qatar.
June 9: Qatari Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani opened America-Islamic World Forum.
June 15: Qatar contributed USD 10 million to the world heritage emergency fund.
Sept 11: Qatari Foreign Ministry announced successful mediation that resulted in the release of Fijian UN peacekeepers from Al-Nusra Front in the liberated side of the Golan Heights.
Agreements:
March 5: Qatar and Mexico signed a memorandum on opening embassies in each other's state.
March 11: Qatar and Bulgaria inked two agreements for diplomats training and cooperation between the both countries' national news agencies.
Qatar signed several agreements between April and June, all aimed at boosting cooperation in different domains with other countries, namely Portugal, Kenya, Morocco, Hungary and Liberia.
June 24: Qatar signed a USD 2.7 billion contract with two French companies to build a metro in Doha.
Oct 19: Qatari Armed Forces signed an agreement with the French company Thales to provide elements for infrastructure, modern communication and satellite.
Oct 20: Qatari and French police signed a cooperation agreement.
Oct 20: Qatar and Azerbaijan signed a security cooperation agreement.
Oct 28: Qatari Foreign Minister Khaled Al-Atiyyah and British Interior Minister signed a memorandum of understanding for security cooperation in London.
Oct 28: Qatari Minister of Culture, Arts and Heritage Hamad bin Abdulaziz Al-Kuwari and Turkish Minister of Culture and Tourism signed a cultural cooperation agreement in Ankara.
Nov 2: Qatar and Sudan signed a MoU memorandum of understanding for military cooperation.
Nov 3: Qatar and Saudi Arabia agreed on executing the infrastructure for the electronic border customs system.
Nov 18: Qatar and Gambia signed an agreement on avoiding double taxation, tax evasion and cooperation in aviation services.
Nov 23: Qatar and Algeria signed MoUs to develop cooperation on different levels.
Economy:
Jan 21: The Qatari Government unveiled five water reservoirs projects with a total cost of 15 billion riyals.
March 27: The Qatari Armed Forces inked military equipment deals at a total value of 87 billion Qatari riyals in the final day of the leading Naval Defense and Maritime Security Exhibition DIMDEX 2014. March 30: The Qatari Government approved a budget of QR 225.7 billion for the 2014-2015 fiscal year, the largest-ever for the country.
July 1: Qatar's trade balance achieved a surplus of 33.3 billion Riyals in May of 2014, an increase of 7.8 percent or 2.4 billion riyals.
Sports: Feb 6: The Qatari national handball team won the title of the 16th Asian Men's Championship after beating the host Bahraini team 27-26 in the final.
Feb 20: The Qatar Football Association (QFA) approved hosting the matches of Iraqi football clubs in the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Cup due to the ban imposed on holding matches in Iraq.
Nov 26: Qatar won the 22th edition of the Gulf Cup of Nations for football after defeating the hosting team of Saudi Arabia 2-1.
Disasters: Feb 27: Twelve people were killed and 31 were injured when a gas tank exploded at a restaurant in the Qatari capital Doha.
Conferences and Achievements: July 19: Qatar established two centers to protect environment and wild life in a Chinese province.
Sept 15: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Qatari Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani placed the corner stone for the Turkish Village in Doha.
Oct 20: The tenth edition of the international exhibition on internal security (MILIPOL 2014) kicked off in Doha, with participation of 261 companies of 36 countries.
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