Bahraini FM chairs GCC meeting

The Minister of Foreign Affairs Shaikh Khalid bin Ahmed bin Mohammed Al-Khalifa today opened the 126th GCC ministerial session in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Addressing the opening session, he hailed the landmark GCC achievements since its inception, paying tribute to the Gulf leaders for their directives to bolster the joint march. He stressed the crucial importance of bolstering cooperation and cementing complementarity and undertaking concrete steps to meet Gulf nationals' aspirations. The minister stressed the GCC countries' aspirations to build better relations with Islamic Republic of Iran. However, he deplored the continued flagrant Iranian interference in the GCC countries' internal affairs. He slammed the continued Iranian occupation of the Emirati islands (Greater Lesser Tunbs and Abu Musa) as well as Tehran's refusal to settle the dispute peacefully through negotiations and international arbitration. He urged all GCC countries to stand united and join ranks so that they could stave off foreign interference, confront regional and international challenges and ensure the national sovereignty is respected. Shaikh Khalid pointed out the regional and international upheavals, stressing the need to set up the GCC Union and meet the Gulf nationals' hopes and aspirations for a better future. He arrived earlier in Saudi Arabia to lead Bahrain's delegation to the 126th GCC ministerial session in Riyadh. He was met on arrival by Saudi Deputy Foreign Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Abdulla Al-Saud, GCC Secretary-General Dr. Abdullatif bin Rashid Al-Zayani, Bahrain Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Shaikh Humood bin Abdulla Al-Khalifa and other officials.