Two heads of state and other representatives of the six Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries on Sunday arrived in Kuwait for their annual summit.
King of Bahrain 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.
The two-day summit, due to open late in the evening, is to focus on fighting terrorism, relations with post-Saddam Hussein Iraq and a host of economic integration issues.
Kuwait's Amir Sheikh Jaber Al-ahmad Al-Sabah Sunday appealed to Arab Gulf nations to join hands in the face of challenges facing the region. "We hope that the Almighty Allah guides us to solidarity and cooperation," the Amir said in an improvised statement to reporters at the airport.
The Kuwaiti leader also cautioned against listening to "rumors" that might undermine solidarity among the six GCC states, KUNA reported.
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