The 132nd GCC Ministerial Council session opens in Jeddah, with Abdullah bin Zayed in attendance. WAM/Photo
The 132nd GCC Ministerial Council session opens in Jeddah, with Abdullah bin Zayed in attendance. WAM/Photo

GCC unity is key to stability, Gargash says



ABU DHABI // Unity and cooperation among the Gulf states are the key to stability and prosperity, a senior minister said on Sunday.

Recent tension involving Qatar was “the most raging crisis in the history of the GCC”, Dr Anwar Gargash, the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, said after a meeting of GCC foreign ministers in Jeddah.

“The ambience at the … meeting was positive,” Dr Gargash said on Twitter. “Frameworks for the implementation of agreed commitments are in place and we hope they achieve their purpose and that we move on from the crisis.”

He said the UAE’s approach had led to a strong belief that stability was a key priority. “We all have the responsibility to heal and restore confidence and rise above every small matter, both in words and actions, because we are all in the same boat, one we wish to be immune and strong,” he said.

“We must not allow those with an agenda to fish in troubled waters, especially at this time of rebuilding confidence, and we must realise that there are those who do not want us to succeed.”

Dr Gargash said the UAE’s interests lay in the Gulf, far from the region’s conflicts and disagreements. “Our success is a success for all and we must realise that our unity and cooperation are the key to our stability and prosperity.

“The past months were a harsh test and lesson, so let us join hands and entrench our home … joint efforts reap more achievements than individual action.”

Dr Theodore Karasik, director at the Institute for Near East and Gulf Military Analysis in Dubai, said it was important for the GCC to work out its differences because of the threat posed by the Islamist extremists from ISIL in Syria and Iraq.

“That is far more important than inter-GCC disputes at this time,” he said. “We are always hopeful that these differences can be worked out but they do remain and will be dealt with at another time.”

Dr Firuz Demir Yasamis, director of diplomacy at the American University in the Emirates, also urged Gulf countries to stick together. ISIL, he said, “is currently a much bigger threat and it is anticipated to become more so in the future.

“Their strategy and system are not an acceptable model so Gulf states must stand by each other to fight such a growing threat. This problem will be a contagious disease that is expected to affect neighbouring areas so GCC countries must unite.”

At their meeting on Saturday, the foreign ministers called for concerted regional and international efforts on counter-terrorism and the uprooting of all forms of terrorism and extremism, and stressed their commitment to tolerance and co-existence.

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Find the right policy for you

Don’t wait until the week you fly to sign up for insurance – get it when you book your trip. Insurance covers you for cancellation and anything else that can go wrong before you leave.

Some insurers, such as World Nomads, allow you to book once you are travelling – but, as Mr Mohammed found out, pre-existing medical conditions are not covered.

Check your credit card before booking insurance to see if you have any travel insurance as a benefit – most UAE banks, such as Emirates NBD, First Abu Dhabi Bank and Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank, have cards that throw in insurance as part of their package. But read the fine print – they may only cover emergencies while you’re travelling, not cancellation before a trip.

Pre-existing medical conditions such as a heart condition, diabetes, epilepsy and even asthma may not be included as standard. Again, check the terms, exclusions and limitations of any insurance carefully.

If you want trip cancellation or curtailment, baggage loss or delay covered, you may need a higher-grade plan, says Ambareen Musa of Souqalmal.com. Decide how much coverage you need for emergency medical expenses or personal liability. Premium insurance packages give up to $1 million (Dh3.7m) in each category, Ms Musa adds.

Don’t wait for days to call your insurer if you need to make a claim. You may be required to notify them within 72 hours. Gather together all receipts, emails and reports to prove that you paid for something, that you didn’t use it and that you did not get reimbursed.

Finally, consider optional extras you may need, says Sarah Pickford of Travel Counsellors, such as a winter sports holiday. Also ensure all individuals can travel independently on that cover, she adds. And remember: “Cheap isn’t necessarily best.”

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