RIYADH, May 24: The six-member Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) has pointed out to the visiting EU delegate that linking the development process in the GCC to the prevailing human rights concepts in the West amounts to interference in the “special characteristics” of the region.

Samy Nair, head of the European Parliament’s foreign relations committee, said in Riyadh earlier this week that the Gulf States must address the human rights issues to achieve economic development.

“We have reconfirmed our positions that there could be no economic development without social development and the respect of human rights,” Nair, a French MP and head of the 18-member parliamentary delegation told a press conference here after meeting Saudi officials.

He also called on Crown Prince Abdullah during his visit to the kingdom.

The Gulf Arab states, during a conference on future ties between the EU and the GCC, were reported to have asked the European Union to steer clear of human rights issues in the region.

The conference in Abu Dhabi discussed the need for a political and security dialogue between the GCC and the EU.

“The discussions covered a variety of subjects, including the nature of regimes in the Gulf, human rights, technology, human resources and education,” Dr Jamal Al-Suweidi, Director of Emirates Center for Strategic Studies and Research said on Thursday.