Speaker attends GCC legislative meeting

Jeddah, Mar. 28(BNA): The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) legislative councils (the Shura Councils, Councils of Representatives, the Federal National Councils National Assemblies) convened today for their 12th meeting in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Addressing the session, Council of Representatives Speaker Fawziya bint Abdulla Zainal paid tribute to His Majesty King Hamad Al-Khalifa for initiating the reform and democratic project and embarking on comprehensive development in Bahrain. She lauded the people of Bahrain which showed its patriotic belonging and allegiance to HM the King, voting massively in the recent parliamentary and municipal elections. She slammed the growing Iranian danger, interference in the Arabian Gulf countries’ internal affairs and non-respect of international law and the principles of good neighborliness, citing the occupation of the UAE islands and continuous incitement. The Speaker stressed the need to maintain the GCC entity as a collective responsibility, in light of current regional developments and mountain challenges which require a joint vision to serve common strategic goals that include mainly security, stability, development and counter-terrorism. She expressed pride at attending the 12th meeting of (GCC) legislative councils after her election as Council of Representatives Speaker, pointing out that two women chair legislative councils in the Gulf Cooperation Council. She commended the GCC states’ strides in promoting the rights of Gulf women who participate, alongside men, in the development and progress of their countries in all fields. She reiterated Bahrain’s condemnation of the terrorist mass shooting which targeted two mosques in New Zealand, leaving dozens of innocent worshipers dead and injured, extending heartfelt condemnation to their bereft families and She reaffirmed Bahrain’s unwavering support to the Palestinian issue, as well as the US statement recognising sovereignty of Israel over the Golan Heights, in breach of international laws and resolutions, including mainly the UN Security Council resolution 497 / 1981 which called on Israel to annul the annexation of the Golan Heights. The Speaker paid tribute to brave soldiers who are taking part in the Saudi-led Arab Alliance to support the legitimate rule in Yemen.