Namlah, Internal Media Undersecretary at the Ministry of Culture and Information, has described the “Gulf Cooperation Council Days” event, which began on Monday in Madrid, as a step to promote understanding and interfaith dialogue as called for by King Abdullah, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques. The annual event is held in European capitals in collaboration with the GCC General Secretariat and embassies of member states in host countries. Al-Namlah heads the Kingdom's delegation at the event in which participating delegations are taking part in the political, economic, intellectual and scientific activities. The importance of the event, Al-Namlah said, lies in its targeting of political and economic decision-making elites in European countries and correcting misconceptions in the West about Islam and Muslims. Events such as these, he continued, serve as a response to the anti-Islamic campaigns in parts of the European media and promote the true tolerant and moderate principles of Islam. Intellectuals from the Kingdom and other GCC states will address the Madrid public on a variety of political, economic and social issues. Ruqyia Al-Shoaibi from Al-Nahda Women's Society in Riyadh, presented a working paper at a symposium on the role of women in development. Al-Shoaibi spoke of the role of women in sustainable development in the GCC. Dr. Nageeb Abdullah Al-Shamsi from the Research and Studies Units in the GCC General Secretariat will also take part in a seminar focusing on dialogue between the GCC and Spain.
