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The
Charter
The Cooperation Council - Charter
The Supreme Council - Rules of Procedure
The Ministerial Council - Rules of Procedure
The Commission for the Settlement of Disputes - Rules of
Procedure
COOPERATION COUNCIL
FOR
THE ARAB STATES OF THE GULF
The United Arab Emirates
The State of Bahrain
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
The Sultanate of Oman
The State of Qatar, and
The State of Kuwait
Being fully aware of the ties of special relations,
common characteristics and similar systems founded on
the creed of Islam which bind them; and
Desiring to effect coordination, cooperation and
integration between them in all fields; and,
Having the conviction that coordination, cooperation,
and integration between them serve the sublime
objectives of the Arab Nation; and,
Having the conviction that coordination, cooperation,
and integration between them serve the sublime
objectives of the Arab Nation; and,
In pursuit of the goal of strengthening cooperation and
reinforcement of the links between them; and
In an endeavour to complement efforts already begun in
all essential areas that concern their peoples and
realize their hopes for a better future on the path to
unity of their States; and
In conformity with the Charter of the League of Arab
States which calls for the realization of closer
relations and stronger bonds; and
In order to channel their efforts to reinforce and serve
Arab and Islamic causes,
Have agreed as follows:
ARTICLE
ONE
The Establishment of the Council
A Council shall be established hereby to be named The
Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf
hereinafter referred to as the Cooperation Council
(GCC).
ARTICLE
TWO
The Cooperation Council shall have its headquarters in
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
ARTICLE
THREE
Cooperation Council Meetings
The Council shall hold its meetings in the state where
it has its headquarters, and may convene in any member
state.
ARTICLE
FOUR
Objectives
The basic objectives of the Cooperation Council are:
To effect coordination, integration and inter-connection
between Member States in all fields in order to achieve
unity between them.
To deepen and strengthen relations, links and areas of
cooperation now prevailing between their peoples in
various fields.
To formulate similar regulations in various fields
including the following:
Economic and financial affairs
Commerce, customs and communications
Education and culture
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.
ARTICLE
FIVE
Council Membership
The Cooperation Council shall be formed of the six
states that participated in the Foreign Ministers'
meeting held in Riyadh on 4 February 1981.
ARTICLE
SIX
Organization of the Cooperation Council
The Cooperation Council shall have the following main
organizations:
1. The Supreme Council to which shall be attached the
Commission for Settlement of Disputes.
2. The Ministerial Council.
3. The Secretariat General.
Each of these organizations may establish sub-agencies
as may be necessary.
ARTICLE
SEVEN
Supreme Council
The Cooperation Council shall be formed of the six
states that participated in the Foreign Ministers'
meeting held in Riyadh on 4 February 1981.
The Supreme Council is the highest authority of the
Cooperation Council and shall be formed of heads of
member states. Its presidency shall be rotatory based on
the alphabetical order of the names of the member
states.
The Supreme Council shall hold one regular session every
year. Extraordinary sessions may be convened at the
request of any member seconded by another member.
The Supreme Council shall hold its sessions in the
territories of member states.
A Supreme Council's meeting shall be considered valid if
attend by two-thirds of the member states.
ARTICLE
EIGHT
The Functions of the Supreme Council
The Supreme Council shall endeavour to realize the
objectives of the Cooperation Council, particularly as
concerns the following:
Review matters of interest to the member states.
Lay down the higher policy for the Cooperation Council
and the basic lines it should follow.
Review the recommendations, reports, studies and joint
ventures submitted by the Ministerial Council for
approval.
Review reports and studies, which the Secretary-General
is charged to prepare.
Approve the bases for dealing with other states and
international organizations.
Approve the rules of procedure of the Commission for the
Settlement of Disputes and nominate its members.
Appoint the Secretary-General.
Amend the Charter of the Cooperation Council.
Approve the Council's internal rules of procedure.
Approve the budget of the Secretariat General.
ARTICLE
NINE
Voting in the Supreme Council
The Cooperation Council shall be formed of the six
states that participated in the Foreign Ministers'
meeting held in Riyadh on 4 February 1981.
Each member of the Supreme Council shall have one vote.
Resolutions of the Supreme Council in substantive
matters shall be carried by unanimous approval of the
member states participating in the voting, while
resolutions on procedural matters shall be carried by
majority vote.
ARTICLE
TEN
Commission for the Settlement of Disputes
The Cooperation Council shall have a commission called
"The Commission for the Settlement of Disputes" which
shall be attached to the Supreme Council.
The Supreme Council shall establish the composition of
the Commission for every case on an "ad hoc" basis in
accordance with the nature of the dispute.
If a dispute arises over interpretation or
implementation of the Charter and such dispute is not
resolved within the Ministerial Council or the Supreme
Council, the Supreme Council may refer such dispute to
the Commission for the Settlement of Disputes.
The Commission shall submit its recommendations or
opinion, as applicable, to the Supreme Council for such
action as the Supreme Council deems appropriate.
ARTICLE
ELEVEN
Ministerial Council
The Ministerial Council shall be formed of the Foreign
Ministers of the member states or other delegated
ministers. The Council Presidency shall be for the
member state, which presided the last ordinary session
of the Supreme Council, or if necessary, for the state
which is next to preside the Supreme Council.
The Ministerial Council shall convene every three months
and may hold extraordinary sessions at the invitation of
any member seconded by another member.
The Ministerial Council shall determine the venue of its
next session.
A Council's meeting shall be deemed valid if attended by
two-thirds of the member states.
ARTICLE
TWELVE
Functions of the Ministerial Council
Propose policies, prepare recommendations, studies and
projects aimed at developing cooperation and
coordination between member states in various fields and
adopt the resolutions or recommendations required in
this regard.
Endeavour to encourage, develop and coordinate
activities existing between member states in all fields.
Resolutions adopted in such matters shall be referred to
the Ministerial Council for further submission, with
recommendations to the Supreme Council for appropriate
action.
Submit recommendations to the Ministers concerned to
formulate policies whereby the Cooperation Council's
resolutions may be put into effect.
Encourage means of cooperation and coordination between
the various private sector activities, develop existing
cooperation between the member states' Chamber of
Commerce and Industry, and encourage the movement within
the GCC of workers who are citizens of the member
states.
Refer any of the various aspects of cooperation to one
or more technical or specialised committee for study and
presentation of appropriate recommendations.
Review proposals related to amendments to this Charter
and submit appropriate recommendations to the Supreme
Council.
Approve Rules of Procedure of both the Ministerial
Council and the Secretariat General.
Appoint the Assistant Secretaries-General, as nominated
by the Secretary-General, for a period of three year,
renewable.
Approve periodic reports as well as internal rules and
regulations relating to administrative and financial
affairs proposed by the Secretary-General, and submit
recommendations to the Supreme Council for approval of
the budget of the Secretariat General.
Make arrangements for meetings of the Supreme Council
and prepare its agenda.
Review matters referred to it by the Supreme Council.
ARTICLE
THIRTEEN
Voting in the Ministerial Council
Every member of the Ministerial Council shall have one
vote.
Resolutions of the Ministerial Council in substantive
matters shall be carried by unanimous vote of the member
state present and participating in the vote, and in
procedural matters by majority vote.
ARTICLE
FOURTEEN
The Secretariat General
The Secretariat General shall be composed of a
Secretary-General who shall be assisted by assistants
and a number of staff as required.
The Supreme Council shall appoint the Secretary-General,
who shall be a citizen of one of the Cooperation Council
states, for a period of three years, which may be
renewed once only.
The Secretary-General shall nominate the Assistant
Secretaries-General.
The Secretary-General shall appoint the Secretariat
General staff from among the citizens of member states,
and may not make exceptions without the approval of the
Ministerial Council.
The Secretary-General shall be directly responsible for
the work of the Secretariat General and the smooth flow
of work in its various organizations. He shall represent
the Cooperation Council with other parties within the
limits of the authority vested in him.
ARTICLE
FIFTEEN
Functions of the Secretariat General
The Secretariat General shall:
Prepare studies related to cooperation and coordination,
and to integrated plans and programmes for member
states' action.
Prepare periodic reports on the work of the Cooperation
Council.
Follow up the implementation by the member states of the
resolutions and recommendations of the Supreme Council
and Ministerial Council.
Prepare reports and studies requested by the Supreme
Council or Ministerial Council.
Prepare the draft of administrative and financial
regulations commensurate with the growth of the
Cooperation Council and its expanding responsibilities.
Prepare the budgets and closing accounts of the
Cooperation Council.
Make preparations for meetings and prepare agendas and
draft resolutions for the Ministerial Council.
Recommend to the Chairman of the Ministerial Council the
convening of an extraordinary session of the Council
when necessary.
Any other tasks entrusted to it by the Supreme Council
or Ministerial Council.
ARTICLE
SIXTEEN
The Secretary-General and the Assistant
Secretaries-General and all the Secretariat General
staff shall carry out their duties in complete
independence and for the joint benefit of the member
states.
They shall refrain from any action or behaviour that is
incompatible with their duties and from divulging
confidential matters relating to their appointments
either during or after their tenure of office.
ARTICLE
SEVENTEEN
Privileges and Immunities
The Cooperation Council and its organizations shall
enjoy on the territories of all member states such legal
competence, privileges and immunities as are required to
realize their objectives and carry out their functions.
Representatives of the members on the Council, and the
Council's employees, shall enjoy such privileges and
immunities as are specified in agreements to be
concluded for this purpose between the member states. A
special agreement shall organize the relation between
the Council and the state in which it has its
headquarters.
Until such time as the two agreements mentioned in item
2 above are prepared and put into effect, the
representatives of the member states in the Cooperation
Council and its staff shall enjoy the diplomatic
privileges and immunities established for similar
organizations.
ARTICLE
EIGHTEEN
Budget of the Secretariat General
The Secretariat General shall have a budget to which the
member states shall contribute in equal amounts.
ARTICLE
NINETEEN
The Implementation of the Charter
This Charter shall go into effect as of the date it is
signed by the Head of States of the six member states
named in this Charter's preamble.
The original copy of this Charter shall be deposited
with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of
Saudi Arabia which shall act as custodian and shall
deliver a true copy thereof to every member state,
pending the establishment of the Secretariat General, at
which time the latter shall become depository.
ARTICLE
TWENTY
Amendments to the Charter
Any member state may request an amendment of this
Charter.
Request for Charter amendments shall be submitted to the
Secretary-General who shall refer them to the member
states at least four months prior to submission to the
Ministerial Council.
An amendment shall become effective if unanimously
approved by the Supreme Council.
ARTICLE
TWENTYONE
Closing Provisions
No reservations may be voiced in respect of the
provisions of this Charter.
ARTICLE
TWENTYTWO
The Secretariat General shall arrange to deposit and
register copies of this Charter with the League of Arab
States and the United Nations, by resolution of the
Ministerial Council.
This Charter is signed on one copy in the Arabic
language at Abu Dhabi City, United Arab Emirates, on 21
Rajab 1401 corresponding to 25 May 1981.
The United Arab Emirates
The State of Bahrain
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
The Sultanate of Oman
The State of Qatar
The State of Kuwait
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