Gulf Media Ministers Reiterate Rejection of Any Threat to Unity or Insults to GCC States, Symbols, and Peoples

Kuwait’s Minister of State for Communications and Information Technology and Acting Minister of Information and Culture, Omar Al-Omar, affirmed in Manama on Wednesday Kuwait’s commitment to enhancing media cooperation and integration among the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, and to unifying efforts to confront media challenges in a manner that consolidates the Gulf identity and highlights the achievements and positions of the GCC states at both regional and international levels.

This statement came in an interview given by Minister Al-Omar to the Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) following his participation in the 29th meeting of the GCC Ministers of Media, held in the sister Kingdom of Bahrain, where he praised Bahrain’s efforts in organizing the meeting and commended the role of the GCC Secretariat General in supporting the trajectory of joint Gulf media work.

Al-Omar explained that the meeting addressed several topics and initiatives aimed at developing media content, strengthening media partnerships with sister and friendly countries, empowering media personnel, and leveraging modern technologies and artificial intelligence to keep pace with the rapid transformations in the media industry.

He highlighted the importance of the media’s role in conveying facts, countering misinformation, enhancing public awareness, and supporting regional security and stability, thereby reflecting the responsibility of Gulf media in addressing regional and international challenges.

He noted that GCC Ministers of Media, in their statement issued at the conclusion of the meeting, emphasized that cohesion and solidarity among the GCC states, their leaderships, and their peoples constitute a firm cornerstone for safeguarding security and stability and preserving Gulf achievements. They stressed that Gulf unity is a shared responsibility and a constant commitment among the GCC states, which gains greater significance in light of current circumstances to confront challenges and their repercussions.

The ministers also firmly rejected any actions aimed at undermining Gulf unity or insulting the GCC states, their symbols, or their peoples. They stressed the importance of intensifying the monitoring and documentation of violations committed through various media outlets and digital platforms, and taking necessary legal measures to hold perpetrators accountable by the competent authorities in each country, in accordance with national regulations and relevant GCC decisions and systems adopted by the GCC states, following the procedures in force in each country.

The ministers called on media institutions, media professionals, and social media platform users to adhere to their responsibilities, ensure accuracy, obtain information from official sources, and avoid publishing, disseminating, or circulating offensive or misleading content. They affirmed that the sensitivity of the current phase necessitates concerted efforts to protect unity, consolidate fraternal ties among the peoples of the GCC states, and support all initiatives that enhance their security and stability.

Al-Omar concluded his statement by reiterating Kuwait’s continued support for initiatives aimed at developing the Gulf media system and strengthening cooperation and coordination among the GCC states, in order to realize the aspirations of their leaderships and peoples, and to advance joint Gulf work toward greater integration and achievement.