Bahrain to boycott GCC summit if Qatar attends
Doha should correct its approach, come to its senses, king says
Bahrain will not attend any Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) summit or meeting if Qatar is in attendence, unless Doha corrects its approach, comes to its senses, and responds to the demands of the countries that have long suffered from its actions, King Hamad Bin Eisa Al Khalifa said yesterday.
The king, who was chairing the weekly cabinet session, ordered a study of the measures to be taken at this stage, the cabinet secretarygeneral said. No breakthrough has been achieved by the mediation efforts exerted by Kuwait, the host of the next GCC summit in December.
Amid mounting speculation about the fate of the summit and whether it would be postponed, cancelled or moved to a different venue, Bahrain became the first country to formally announce that it would not be present if Qatar attends. Qatar has proved that it does not respect the charters, treaties and relations that established the GCC and has instead implemented policies targeting the security of GCC member states, King Hamad said.
Bahrain is keen on steady and cohesive progress of the GCC, and the time has come to take firmer action against those who seek to empower themselves with assistance from abroad to threaten the security and safety of their brothers, King Hamad said at the cabinet session.
Shaikha Rana Bint Isa Bin Duaij Al Khalifa has made history by becoming the first undersecretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Bahrain.
She was appointed to the position in a decree issued by King Hamad Bin Isa Al Khalifa on Sunday.
The appointment is seen as a major boost for the status of women in a country where they have been enjoying an impressive array of rights that has allowed them to become ministers, ambassadors and judges.
Prior to her new position, Shaikha Rana was Assistant Undersecretary for Arab and Afro-Asian Affairs and Organisations at the foreign ministry.