The President stressed the importance of cooperation among GCC countries to ensure the stability and security of the Gulf region. President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan made the statement when he received the GCC Ministers of Defence at Al Rawda Palace yesterday in the presence of His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. Shaikh Khalifa received Prince Salman Bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud, Saudi Minister of Defence, Shaikh Jaber Al Mubarak Al Hamad Al Sabah, Kuwait’s First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence, General Mohammad Bin Abdullah Al Khalifa, Bahrain’s Minister of State for Defence Affairs, Sayed Badr Bin Saud Bin Hareb Al Busaidi, Minister Responsible for Defence Affairs, and Major General Hamad Bin Ali Al Attiyah, Chief of Staff of the Qatari Armed Forces. The GCC officials were accompanied by Abdul Latif Bin Rashid Al Zayani, GCC Secretary General. Peace and stability Shaikh Khalifa said that the GCC countries are hoping for peace and stability all across the region, which would help GCC countries achieve even more progress and prosperity for the benefit of their people. Shaikh Khalifa was briefed by the officials on defence plans and programmes that are currently being studied amongst GCC countries to achieve more cooperation in the field of defence in light of the accomplishments that have been made in this field since the formation of the GCC. Health and prosperity Shaikh Khalifa wished the GCC Ministers of Defence more success in their coming meetings, which are within the framework of preparing for the GCC Summit that will take place in Saudi Arabia in December. Shaikh Khalifa conveyed to the GCC Ministers his greetings for the GCC Leaders and Rulers, wishing them good health and more progress and prosperity for their peoples. Present during the meeting were Lieutenant General Shaikh Saif Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, Shaikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Foreign Minister, Shaikh Hamdan Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Ruler’s Representative in the Western Region, and other Shaikhs, ministers and military officials.