GCC Secretary General denounces Qatari media attack

Dr. Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani, Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council, GCC, has expressed his condemnation of what he termed the "irresponsible media attacks" carried out by some Qatari news outlets toward the GCC and its Secretary-General, describing it as an unjust campaign that has gone beyond all customs, values and media professionalism.

In a press statement, Al-Zayani expressed his deep surprise at attempts by some Qatari media organs to hold his position as GCC Secretary-General as responsible for resolving the GCC crisis.

"Although officials in the Qatari government and the Qatari media are fully aware that the solution of the crisis and the end of its repercussions are in the hands of the GCC leaders, who are the members of the Supreme Council, and no one else, and that it is not the responsibility and duties of the Secretary-General, who receives and executes the decisions, directives and orders of the Supreme Council and the Ministerial Council only, and is committed to the provisions of the Statute of the Cooperation Council," Al-Zayani was quoted by the Saudi Press Agency as saying.

Al-Zayani expressed his disapproval of what some journalists in Qatar are doing by attempting to link the crisis with his Bahraini nationality and his well-known position in the Gulf kingdom, affirming his full commitment to discharging his responsibilities, tasks and duties as assigned by the Supreme Council to preserve the cohesion of the GCC system and its achievements and its regional and international standing.

Al-Zayani called upon the Qatari media to stop using its current approach that harms, separates and blocks the paths to repairing the inter-brotherly relations, hindering the good mediation efforts undertaken by Emir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah of the State of Kuwait who is known for his wisdom, loyalty and love toward the GCC countries and peoples.