Bahraini PM receives GPA chairman and members

His Royal Highness Prime Minister Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa has called for the need to be aware and vigilant in order to enhance GCC safety, stressing that unity is the only guarantor of GCC states' security, which is integral and inadvisable. He said that GCC unity has become a popular demand and the activation of the initiative of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdulla bin Abdulaziz Al Saud can achieve that. He added that the region is currently facing a destiny issue ("to be or not to be") because it is going through an extraordinary situation in which its security and stability are targeted, in addition to attempts to sow division among the citizens of the same nation. "GCC Union will strengthen the entity and be a protective shield against any attempts to interfere into it," HRH said as he received at the Gudaibiya Palace today the Gulf Press Association (GPA) Chairman Turki Al-Sudiari and Secretary-General Nasser Al-Othman, marking the beginning of the 4th GPA's Assembly, hosted by the kingdom. During the audience, HRH Premier lauded the prestigious position reached by the GCC press at the Arab and international arenas, which reflects the progress and development of their countries, praising its moderate and balanced method in tackling and defending GCC and Arab issues and refuting fallacious information and defamatory campaigns against the region's peoples and governments. HRH Premier hailed the landmark achievements of GCC leaders and governments and keenness to take advantage of all available resources to develop their countries and ensure better standards of living for their peoples, adding that what GCC citizens enjoy can hardly be found in the most developed countries. "We are required to preserve GCC milestone achievements and increase them through reinforcing security and stability," he said, praising the key role played by the Joint Peninsula Shield forces in defending the security and stability of GCC countries. HRH Premier pointed out that GCC countries, in particular, and the region, in general, are facing a campaign orchestrated by some foreign media outlets for the aim of undermining and distorting their accomplishment, emphasizing the need to confront those "unfair campaigns" through highlighting GCC countries' development strides. He underlined that sincerity has proved powerful and effective in facing the distortion campaigns lauched against the region, hailing the honourable stances of GCC press and media figures towards Bahrain. He stressed the importance of unified GCC stances, which, he said, has always been a distinctive feature of GCC states and peoples, commending the efforts of the Gulf Press Association in boosting GCC media cooperation and protecting the rights and interest of press and media personnel. He also wished them a successful assembly. On their part, the GPA Chairman and members lauded HRH Premier's constant support for their association and appreciation of the role played by journalists to enlighten the public opinion and focus on the development and renaissance pillars in GCC countries. They also praised HRH Premier's efforts to enhance joint GCC action in all fields and his sound vision to achieve GCC Union in order to meet the aspirations of GCC citizens' aspirations for a brighter and more prosperous future. They also took pride in the key role played by the Premier in the development and progress marches currently witnessed by the kingdom in all fields.