RIYADH, DEC 9, SPA -- SHEIKH KHALIFA BIN ZAYED AL-NAHYAN, THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES (UAE), EXPRESSED TODAY HIS OPTIMISM THAT THE GCC SUMMIT STARTING ITS WORKS LATER TODAY IN RIYADH, WOULD YIELD POSITIVE RESULTS AND ADOPT 'CONSTRUCTIVE' DECISIONS. IN A STATEMENT FOLLOWING HIS ARRIVAL IN RIYADH TODAY, HE SAID THE CHALLENGES FACING THE REGION MAKE IT IMPORTANT FOR THE GCC LEADERS TO COORDINATE THEIR STANDS. HE EXPRESSED HAPPINESS FOR THE ACHIEVEMENTS ATTAINED SINCE THE LAST GCC SUMMIT HELD IN ABU DHABI LAST YEAR. HE POINTED OUT THAT SERIOUS STEPS HAVE BEEN TAKEN TO REMOVE COMMERCIAL BARRIERS AMONG THE GCC STATES AND TO COMPLETE THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE GULF COMMON MARKET. SHEIKH KHALIFA SAID THE SPECIALIZED COMMITTEES HAVE MADE BIG STRIDES TO ESTABLISH THE MONETARY UNION, AND ISSUE THE UNIFIED GULF CURRENCY. HE ALSO SAID UNIFIED MILITARY AND STRATEGIC STRATEGIES HAVE BEEN APPROVED, AND A COMMITTEE HAS BEEN FORMED FOR COMBATING TERRORISM. MEANWHILE, KING OF BAHRAIN SHEIKH HAMAD AL-KHALIFA URGED THE GCC STATES TO TAKE THE REQUIRED MEASURES FOR SERVING THEIR INTERESTS. IN A PRESS STATEMENT AFTER HIS ARRIVAL IN RIYADH TODAY, HE CALLED FOR STRENGTHENING ECONOMIC TIES AMONG THE GCC STATES. SHEIKH AL-KHALIFA UNDERLINED THE IMPORTANCE OF EXERTING INTENSIVE EFFORTS FOR THE PRESERVATION OF THE GCC ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND FOR MEETING THE ASPIRATIONS OF THE GULF PEOPLE. 'MOREOVER, THERE IS NO OPTION OTHER THAN GREATER COOPERATION AMONG THE GCC STATES', HE SAID. THE GCC IS MADE UP OF SAUDI ARABIA, THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES, KUWAIT, QATAR, BAHRAIN AND OMAN.--MORE www.spa.gov.sa/409832