GCC Secretary General Denounces Qatari Media Attack

Gulf Cooperation Council Chief Abdu Dr. Abdullatif Al-Zayani,SPA
Gulf Cooperation Council Chief Abdu Dr. Abdullatif Al-Zayani,SPA
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GCC Secretary General Denounces Qatari Media Attack

Gulf Cooperation Council Chief Abdu Dr. Abdullatif Al-Zayani,SPA
Gulf Cooperation Council Chief Abdu Dr. Abdullatif Al-Zayani,SPA

Dr. Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani, Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Member States, expressed his condemnation of what he called the "irresponsible media attacks carried out by some Qatari news outlets toward the GCC and the Secretary General, describing it as an unjust campaign that exceeded all customs, values and media professionalism".

In a press statement published by the Saudi Press Agency (SPA), Al-Zayani expressed his deep surprise at the attempt by some Qatari media 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, which 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, committed to the provisions of the Statute of the Cooperation Council,” Al-Zayani said.

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

“But at the same time, he remains a noble son of the Kingdom of Bahrain, faithful to its distinguished leaders, who maintain its patriotism,” the statement added.

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



Small Earthquake Strikes Eastern Saudi Arabia

The earthquake hit eastern Saudi Arabia, 85 kms east of the city of al-Jubail. (SPA)
The earthquake hit eastern Saudi Arabia, 85 kms east of the city of al-Jubail. (SPA)
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Small Earthquake Strikes Eastern Saudi Arabia

The earthquake hit eastern Saudi Arabia, 85 kms east of the city of al-Jubail. (SPA)
The earthquake hit eastern Saudi Arabia, 85 kms east of the city of al-Jubail. (SPA)

A 3.35 magnitude earthquake hit eastern Saudi Arabia, 85 kms east of the city of al-Jubail, said the Saudi Geological Survey on Tuesday.

In remarks to local television, Tariq Mansoob, head of the detection center at the survey, said six earthquakes were detected in the Kingdom from March and April.

They were all between the 3.5 and 4.5 range, he added.

The latest quake, which struck at 5:12 pm on Tuesday, has no impact on the Kingdom, he stated.

Activity along the Arabian and Eurasian plates along the Zagros and Makran mountains in Iran and Pakistan led to the quakes, he explained.

The pressure created by this activity resulted in the tremors, he went on to say.

Small quakes are a “good sign,” Mansoob said, because if the pressure continues to build without release, it would have eventually erupt in a major potentially devastating quake.

He reassured the public that the small tremors were not a cause for concern and that the larger ones had taken place closer to Iranian shores.