(China Daily)
Updated: 2007-12-07 07:02

Iran's president made more than a symbolic presence in Doha, Qatar, early this week.

The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)'s unprecedented initiative of inviting Iranian President Mahmud Ahmadinejad to its 28th summit has caught worldwide attention.

The GCC made the friendly gesture to Iran's president at a sensitive time when his country's relations with the United States are strained, and the nuclear crisis involving his country is escalating.

Since its foundation in 1981, the six-member organization had never opened its door to leaders of non-member states. GCC has set a precedent by inviting Ahmadinejad as Iran is a non-member of the council.

The invitation too was interpreted as the GCC's willingness to open itself to the region and the world.

Ahmadinejad's proposals on promoting regional cooperation and developing bilateral relations were well received at the meeting.

In a statement issued after its summit on Tuesday, the GCC said it welcomed Iran's suggestion to build good neighborly relations and respect for each other.

The Iranian president called for peace and security without any foreign influence.

The council turning to Iran for closer cooperation has set the West and the international community thinking.

The summit covered a host of regional and extra-regional issues, including cooperation, the currency policy of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries, Palestine, the results of last week's Annapolis summit, Lebanon, Sudan, Somalia and Iran's nuclear crisis.

A US intelligence report that Iran had halted its nuclear arms program has changed the situation for the United Nations Security Council which was considering a third round of sanctions against Teheran.

Relations between Iran and the US are getting worse. Inviting Ahmadinejad to its 28th summit, the GCC was obviously offending the US.

US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice took a swipe on Wednesday at the lack of democracy in Iran after Ahmadinejad declared a "great victory" following the US intelligence report on its nuclear program.

She went further to describe Iran as "problematic and dangerous". The US has been pressing for a third round of sanctions against Iran.

By engaging Iran and welcoming Ahmadinejad, the GCC is well aware of its rising regional power.

To peacefully settle Iran's nuclear crisis, various parties should stay engaged in dialogue and cooperation.

(China Daily 12/07/2007 page10)