Youth workshop on GCC patriotism kicks off

A GCC youth workshop on patriotism began on Wednesday under the attendance and auspices of Kuwaiti Information Minister and State Youth Minister Sheikh Salman Sabah Al-Salem Al-Sabah.
The event, organized by the Gulf Cooperation Council General Secretariat, was also attended by the Secretary General Abdullatif Al-Zayani, himself, along with representatives of the missions of the remaining five GCC nations and 200 young participants.
In his keynote speech, the Kuwaiti minister said that the event was held as per the directions of the leaders of the regional bloc - which includes Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
Their decision was based on the importance of the role of youth, who he regarded the "true resource" and the "pillars of the future" of these nations, while paying attention to realizing these youths' aspirations and investing their potentials and creativity, he said.
The workshop aims to encourage youth in the region to work towards enhancing the spirit of belonging, patriotism and integration based on the principles on which the GCC was conceived.
It also aims to ensure a stable life for GCC citizens in the present and future through empowering and rehabilitating the youth, and harnessing their creative potentials in the service of sustainable development in the region, he said.
On the local scale, he said the youth community receives the full backing of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, His Highness the Crown Prince and His Highness the Prime Minister.
Further emphasizing his point, he said this was illustrated in a national initiative released under the instructions of His Highness the Amir.
These instructions resulted in the formation of a national declaration for youth, highlighting their priorities, subsequently followed by the creation of a ministry aiming to execute these priorities.
On the occasion, Sheikh Salman took the opportunity to congratulate His Highness the Amir on his 'humanitarian leader' designation by the United Nations in honour of his worldwide contributions to humanitarian relief efforts.
For his part, GCC chief Al-Zayani dedicated his speech to the true meaning of GCC patriotism, which he said could only be achieved through the sought-after common market.
This realises a number of factors, he said, mainly the right to passage, residence and equality in labour rights in both the public and private sectors.
He expressed pride at the accomplishments made collectively by the bloc, including 48 ministers backing the common market and 18 joint regulations.
Joint trade has amounted from USD 6 billion to over USD 100 billion, he said, and this needs the backing of its youth in all fields, he added.
He also, in turn, hailed the achievement of His Highness the Amir, after his attainment of the unprecedented title bestowed upon him by the UN.