Information Minister: Al-Jazeera channel harms Qatari citizens' interests, breaches Al-Ula Summit principles

Manama, Mar. 15 (BNA): Information Minister, Ali bin Mohammed Al-Romaihi, said that the TV programme broadcast by the Qatari "Al-Jazeera" channel is in disharmony with all the principles stipulated by Al-Ula Summit. These principles, mentioned by the Qatari Foreign Minister after Al-Ula Summit, include non-interference in countries’ domestic affairs, security cooperation, respect for the sovereignty of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states and combating terrorism and extremist organisations, Al-Romaihi added. In a statement to the Information Affairs Ministry’s News Centre, Al-Romaihi, stressed that all peoples of the region, including the Qatari citizens, have questioned the purpose and timing of this pogramme, which is a question that cannot be answered by an employee who carried out his paid work according to direct instructions, but by those who finance this channel. The minister pointed out that the programme hosted a guest who does not have a political or social presence in Bahrain or the region, but he is only known as a person who is wanted by the security authorities, has external links and incites hatred of the ruling system, violence and terrorism. The programme also discussed a book that does not have any presence in any local, Arab or international library, included direct and explicit incitement to hatred of the ruling system and questioned the security and judicial authorities, which makes the details and timing of the programme unclear, Al-Romaihi. The Information Minister affirmed that such an offensive programme has been widely rejected by the representatives of the Bahraini people in the Shura and Representatives councils, NGOs, the Bahrain Journalists Society, journalists, columnists and social media users, adding that the brotherly GCC countries have expressed their honourable stances in denunciation of the programme. The minister emphasised that Al-Jazeera channel has become a heavy burden on the Qatari citizens, and not an investment tool for their benefit, noting that it has caused the withdrawal of ambassadors and the reduction of diplomatic representation in more than 18 countries around the world from Qatar due to the media policies it has pursued during the past years, which are policies that cannot fall under the name of freedom of opinion and expression, because they require accuracy, objectivity and impartiality, which are principles that Al-Jazeera channel does not believe in. Al-Romaihi indicated that those in charge of the channel are now suffering from a scarcity of topics and the countries that they are allowed to address, on top of which are the Qatari internal affairs, which do not exist in this channel, stressing that terms such as “expressing the voice of the peoples”, “opinion and counter-opinion” and “a platform for those who have no platform”, are outdated because they wholly contradict the approach of the Qatari Al-Jazeera, which has become exposed to the Qatari citizens before others. Concluding his statement, the Information Affairs Minister affirmed that Bahrain is a state of law and institutions, and that everyone is aware of its commitment to all the agreements and covenants it has signed with GCC countries, Arab states and the entire world, as commitment to agreements is an integral part of the kingdom’s traditions. The minister highlighted the measures taken by the kingdom, including sending an official Note of Protest by Bahrain’s Foreign Affairs Ministry, and contacting GCC member states to address the issues as soon as possible. Al-Romaihi indicated that when the Kingdom of Bahrain requested holding bilateral meetings with the State of Qatar, it was well-aware that there were outstanding issues that required frankness, courage and disclosure, stressing the need for everyone to adhere to their responsibilities towards the GCC system to which the kingdom is always committed, being the all-inclusive system that achieves the best for GCC citizens.