SPEAKER SEES WELCOME RESPITE IN GCC MEETING HH the Amir, flanked by HH the Crown Prince, Speaker of Kuwait Parliament and other Chairpersons and Speakers of Shura, Representative Councils and National Assemblies, seen during the opening ceremony of the 11th meeting of GCC Chairpersons and SpeakersKUWAIT CITY, Jan 8, (KUNA): The 11th Meeting of Chairpersons and Speakers of Shura, Representatives Councils and National Assemblies of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) was inaugurated on Monday under the patronage and attendance of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al- Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah at the Sheraton Hotel. Upon arrival, HH the Amir was greeted by National Assembly Speaker Marzouq Ali Al-Ghanim and Deputy Speaker Esa Ahmad Al- Kandari.The ceremony was attended by His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, Sheikh Jaber Al-Abdullah Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, Sheikh Faisal Al-Saud Al- Mohammad Al-Sabah, His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Al- Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, President of the Supreme Judicial Council, President of the Constitutional Court and Head of the Cassation Court Justice Yousef Jasem Al-Mutawa’a, First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense Sheikh Nasser Sabah Al- Ahmad Al-Sabah, Minister of Amiri Diwan Affairs Sheikh Ali Jarrah Al- Sabah, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, GCC Secretary General Abdullatif bin Rashid Al-Zayani, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs Anas Al-Saleh and ministers. During the opening speech, His Highness the Amir stressed on the need of cooperation between the Gulf states to face the growing challenges on Monday. HH the Amir hailed the initiative of National Assembly Speaker Marzouq Al-Ghanim, who called for holding this meeting.Meanwhile, HH Sheikh Sabah spoke of the important decisions taken at the 38th Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Summit held in Kuwait last December, regarding joint GCC efforts and cooperation. HH the Amir also expressed his joy over hosting the 23rd Gulf Cup for football which concluded last Friday. He noted that such events bring GCC citizens closer together. His Highness said that it is the GCC leaders’ responsibility to meet the needs and hopes of their people by cooperating with each other to set a road map for development, amidst different growing challenges in the region.HH the Amir also added that the Gulf states had seen prominent achievements within the last four decades in representing the Gulf region on an international level. Kuwait’s National Assembly Speaker Marzouq Al-Ghanim said on Monday that a conference involving chief lawmakers from across the Gulf could bring welcome respite in what appears to be a dismal state of affairs in the region.Addressing a conference involving all six Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) parliament Speakers, Al- Ghanim pointed out that a spate of high-profile events hosted by Kuwait, including the 23rd Gulf Arabian Cup, have allowed GCC states to rekindle goodwill among the neighbors. He lamented that an ongoing Gulf diplomatic rift has deeply distressed Gulf leaders in a region that has long been accustomed to amity, saying that HH the Amir HH finds gratification in seeing the people of the Gulf in solidarity.Kuwait’s chief lawmaker stressed that his country never wavered in its belief that the bond between Gulf nations is largely impenetrable and that the region’s leaders have built ties that will never be broken. He went on to thank his Gulf counterparts for attending the conference, wishing the region continued prosperity. Bahraini Representatives Council Speaker Ahmad bin Ibrahim Al Mallah Monday voiced much thanks and appreciation to HH the Amir for patronizing and attending the 11th meeting of GCC parliament speaker.Speaking at the meeting, Al Mallah said the meeting is part of HH the Amir’s initiatives aiming at maintaining Gulf unity, citing the recent successful Gulf summit and 23rd version of the Arabian Gulf Cup as clear-cut paradigms in this regard. He added that history and generations to come would never forget HH the Amir’s great efforts and unshakable keenness on consolidating and beefing up Gulf solidarity.The Bahraini parliament Speaker hoped that this gathering, hosted by Kuwait, would come up with recommendations purposed to support the role of Gulf parliaments in ensuring bright future for all Gulf countries, people and coming generations. Addressing the gathering, GCC Secretary-General Abdul-Latif Al- Zayani said HH the Amir’s patronage and attendance of this meeting reflected HH the Amir’s relentless eagerness to keep the Gulf bloc stronger and firmer in the face of surrounding challenges. He also spoke highly of all the GCC leaders’ efforts to fulfill the expectations and hopes of the GCC people.Al-Zayani congratulated HH the Amir on the success of the recent Gulf summit and Arabian Gulf Cup, held in Kuwait, which proved deep and concrete bonds among the Gulf brothers. He further voiced gratitude to the Gulf legislative councils for their efforts over the recent period with a view to promoting and strengthening Gulf cooperation and coordination in the parliamentary field. The GCC chief also thanked them for having adopted laws and legislations aiming at maintaining Gulf security and stability and fighting terrorism and extremism.Nationalizing jobsGCC parliament Speakers have affirmed the importance of the nationalization of jobs and investment in human resources of GCC member states.This came on Monday at the conclusion of the 11th meeting of GCC parliament Speakers that was held in Kuwait, and sponsored and attended by HH the Amir. In their final communique, the conferees called for the implementation of nationalizing jobs at GCC states, calling on Kuwait’s National Assembly to implement, in coordination with GCC secretariat, activities and events pertaining to this topic. They commended HH the Amir’s speech in the opening session, affirming the importance of its contents.They said the speech comes to emphasize the significance of keenness on coordination and consultation with all different levels, with the aim of overcoming challenges facing the joint Gulf march in light of surrounding situations. They approved several resolutions regarding the topics listed on the meeting’s agenda. They were briefed on measures taken to enhance relations with foreign parliaments and parliamentary unions, directing to continue work so as to boost the outstanding ties, according to the communique. They asked the GCC secretariat, in coordination with Kuwait’s National Assembly, to fulfil mutual visits between GCC member states’ parliaments and the European Parliament. GCC parliament Speakers were also apprised of member states’ visions and experiences on “threats of terrorism and terrorist organizations, and means of countering them.” They finally sent cables of thanks and appreciations to His Highness the Amir and HH the Crown Prince for hosting the meeting, warm reception and hospitality as well as good organization of the meeting, which contribute to making the event a success. They also expressed their gratitude to National Assembly and Speaker Marzouq Al-Ghanim for hospitality and warm reception they received during the event.