Middle East Information Resource
Political Entities - Arab Cooperation Council
The Arab Cooperation Council (majlis al-ta`awun al-`arabi) is a regional organization which attempts to create a framework for inter-Arab cooperation. It was established in February 1989 by Egypt, Iraq, Jordan and Yemen. Its stated purpose was to promote economic integration among the members, primarily relating to movement and work of ACC nationals within Council memeber`s territories, and trade.
However, there was no full territorial continuity among the member states and there was little basis for economic cooperation. Despite its declaration that it was open to other states, it was perceived by Iraq as an instrument to isolate Syria. Syria was at that time in conflict with Iraq and an ally of Iran. This was a potential threat to Saudi Arabia and other Gulf emirates. For Egypt, the ACC served as a vehicle to rejoin the Arab political world and to return to the Arab League, as approved in the Arab Summit Conference held in Casablanca in September 1989. The absence of common substantive interests among the ACC members predisposed it to failure. After the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait in August 1990, Egypt`s strong opposition to the Iraqi campaign and its decision to join the international coalition against Iraq signalled the demise of the ACC.