Saudi Arabia supports the Bahraini King, government and its people against those trying to destabilize the country, said Dr. Abdullah Aal Al-Sheikh, Speaker of the Saudi Shoura Council, at the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Shoura Speakers meeting in Jeddah on Saturday. He lauded the decision taken by the GCC leaders for the Peninsula Shield Force to secure Bahrain's vital installations and protect the country from those with seditious and malicious intentions. Aal Al-Sheikh also praised the signing of the GCC-brokered deal in Yemen. “We hope this agreement will end the country's long conflict and tension and restore its status as a hub for human civilization.” He said the GCC Unified Parliament will only be achieved by leaders trusted by their people. A working paper on the subject will be produced for discussion at future meetings. “We are only having our fifth meeting so we don't expect to immediately achieve a unified parliament and Shoura Council.” Aal Al-Sheikh said the Shoura Speakers meeting was important because it comes before the 32nd GCC Summit, which will take place in Riyadh this month under the chairmanship of King Abdullah. Addressing the session, Assaf Al-Assaf, representative of the GCC Secretary General and Director of the Administration of the Parliaments Council, paid tribute to Khalid Bin Hilal Al-Ma'wali, Chairman of the Omani Shoura Council, and Muhammad Ahmad Al-Mirr, Chairman of the Union National Council in the UAE, for attending the periodic meeting in Jeddah. “Our meeting is part of joint efforts to deepen and strengthen the brotherly relations between our councils, which are aimed at achieving the noble goals stipulated by the GCC Basic System.” The GCC states have made big strides in its parliaments, in the interest of all Gulf citizens, he added. The speakers concluded their 5th session with a communiqué strongly condemning Iran's accusations against Saudi Arabia, plot to assassinate the Saudi ambassador to the US, and interference in the internal affairs of GCC states. The statement denounced Iran for conspiring against GCC's national security and creating sectarian conflict in the region. __
