GCC heads conclude Riyadh meeting

GCC news agency heads concluded their 16th meeting here on Monday with Bahrain chosen to carry out a study on the formation of a GCC federation of news agencies. The move had been proposed by Bahrain's BNA at the meeting, attended by KUNA Chairman and Director General Sheikh Mubarak Al-Duaij Al-Ibrahim Al-Sabah, and the study will take into account the views of the other five Gulf states. A logo for the news agency union, designed by Kuwait News Agency (KUNA), was approved by the agencies amd will represent the body on social networking websites and smartphone apps. A specific date for future meetings was discussed, along with preceding meetings for chief editors and directors. The attendees also approved Bahrain's proposal for a competition for the best news agency in the six states. They also congratulated Saudi Minister of Culture and Information Abdulaziz Khoja for his country's Cabinet decision to transform the Saudi Press Agency, SPA, into a public authority, headed by Abdullah Al-Hussein. Mohammed Al-Oraimi was also congratulated for his appointment as Director General of Oman News Agency. The meeting, presided by BNA Director General Muhannad Suleiman, was also attended by Assistant Secretary General for Cultural and Media Affairs at the GCC Secretariat Khaled Al-Ghassani, Qatar News Agency (QNA) Director General and Editor in Chief Ahmed Al-Bouainain and Emirates News Agency (WAM) representative Jamal Nasser.