GCC committee meets on parliamentary cooperation

Parliamentary Coordination and Foreign Affairs Committee of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states discussed Thursday ways to coordinate foreign media policy, cooperation among GCC parliaments and the planned parliamentary information network. The meeting, chaired by Kuwaiti MP Dr. Ali Al-Omair, reviewed the preparations for a visit by a delegation, representing the GCC parliaments, to the US Congress. Addressing the gathering, Al-Omair the GCC studies, to be discussed in the meeting, could give momentum to the GCC parliamentary cooperation given the continuous development of legislations in the GCC member countries. The first two papers, presented by the Bahraini Shura Council, deal with the experience of the European Parliament and the preparations for the visit to the US Congress. The third paper, presented by the Federal National Council of the UAE, urges activation of the tasks of the regular meetings of the GCC Parliamentary Coordination and Foreign Affairs Committee as per the provisions of the executive statutes of the committee. The fourth paper, of the Bahraini Shura Council, deals with GCC security while the fifth, of the Saudi Shura Council, highlights the need to promote care for the GCC youths, women and children, enhance the sense of patriotism, and ensure food security. The recommendations of the meeting will be tabled to the GCC speakers of parliaments, due here on November 24-25, for further study and endorsement, Al-Omair told reporters after the meeting. He appreciated the efforts made by the secretariats of the GCC parliaments in developing the papers in question and keeping in pace with the developments in the legislative area. In similar press statements, GCC Assistant Secretary General for Legal Affairs Ambassador Hamad Al-Marri said the sixth meeting of the committee aims to prepare for the coming meeting of the speakers of the GCC parliaments late this month. "The meetings of the GCC legislators are one of the main tributaries of joint action among the Gulf countries," he said, expressing gratitude to Kuwait for hosting the meeting