Qatari Emir (L), received by Kuwaiti Prime Minister Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad (AFP)

KUWAIT CITY, December 21 (IslamOnline.net & News Agencies) - Heads of state and other representatives of the six Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries arrived in Kuwait Sunday, December 21, for their annual summit, expected to focus on fighting terrorism, educational reform and the situation in occupied neighbor Iraq after the capture of ousted president Saddam Hussein.

Bahraini King Sheikh Hamad bin Issa Al-Khalifa and Qatari Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani were the only two heads of state to represent their countries with other leaders sending their deputies, reported Agence France-Presse (AFP).

In statements on arrival, the leaders said they were determined to strengthen the GCC and make it an effective body.

"We are working to strengthen this Council and determined to confront the challenges and overcome them, and forge into the future with new concepts and visions," said the Bahraini monarch.

"The summit is being held at a time of delicate regional and international developments that requires more consultation to strengthen our solidarity," said the Qatari leader.

Terror-Combat

The two-day summit, due to open late in the evening, will focus on fighting terrorism, relations with post-Saddam Iraq and a host of economic integration issues.

The leaders of the GCC, grouping the oil- and gas-rich states of Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE, are expected to approve a joint agreement on combating terrorism.

Foreign ministers who drew up the agenda for the two-day meet referred the agreement to the leaders, saying their countries were targeted by "domestic groups with foreign links," to destabilize the region.

Security has been heightened to maximum in Kuwait with hundreds of tanks and armored vehicles and thousands of soldiers deployed Sunday to guard the conference venue of Bayan Palace, south of Kuwait City, and surrounding areas.

The Gulf leaders will also discuss developments in Iraq, ways to help the occupied country and future ties.

Iraq has expressed a desire to join the GCC, but Secretary General Abdulrahman Al-Attiya has ruled out any possibility of the Gulf alliance admitting new members.

Meanwhile, former GCC Secretary General Abdullah Bishara has urged the leaders to upgrade their internal security, cut dependence on the United States and establish normal ties with Iraq and Iran.

"The first thing Kuwait's GCC summit should do is to build a Gulf security network by establishing a credible security infrastructure ... We must not continue to depend on the United States," AFP quoted him as saying.

"In order to reduce reliance on the United States, we must encourage the Iranian rational approach," especially after signing the additional protocol on nuclear arms and establish normal ties with Iraq, Bishara added.

Reformulating Curricula

Security has been heightened to maximum in Kuwait (AFP)

The GCC leaders are also expected to study a charter for educational reforms with a view to "reformulating school curricula" in member states and preventing what they deem as "the influence of youths by extremist ideologies".

However, Kuwaiti Islamic Member of Parliament Waleed Al-Tabtabaei issued a statement warning the leaders of bowing to U.S. pressure "to impose unacceptable changes that contravene the holy Qur’an," and established Islamic teachings.

Kuwait's Al-Taleea weekly, the mouthpiece of the liberal Kuwait Democratic Forum, said the GCC "must either live up to the peoples' aspirations or sign its death certificate."

Economy, As Well

The summit is being held amid calls in the Kuwaiti capital for serious political and economic reforms after the overthrow and capture of Saddam Hussein.

Economic issues will also be high on the agenda with the leaders expected to review progress made in monetary union, a single currency and a common market amid broad criticism of slow-paced implementation.

The GCC leaders will study obstacles facing the customs union which was launched on January 1.

They will also study a number of major projects like a railway linking GCC states in the first phase and later with Iraq.

Crown Prince Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz is representing Saudi Arabia for the ailing King Fahd.

United Arab Emirates President Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al-Nahayan has stayed away, also for health reasons, and is represented by his deputy Sheikh Rashed bin Maktoum Al-Maktoum, the ruler of Dubai.

Deputy Prime Minister Fahd bin Mahmoud Al-Saeed is Oman's representative after Sultan Qaboos decided not to attend for "personal reasons."