GCC officials, scholars in US to address “misunderstandings

Bahrain is participating, alongside other Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, in a series of public lectures in the US to highlight achievements in the Gulf region and share concerns and aspirations.

The frank, open and direct talks on important topics will help address “issues of misunderstanding and miscommunication” between the United States and its Gulf allies,” Saudi Arabia’s Undersecretary for International Communication at the Information Ministry Abdulmohsen Alyas said.
The lectures at Washington-based think-tanks, including the American Enterprise Institute and the Atlantic Council, will run until May 12.
Speakers from Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Qatar are focusing on the Gulf-US relations, economic reforms, counterterrorism, women’s rights and the political developments in the region.
“The current situation requires close cooperation between the allies based on dialogue and effective communication at all levels,” Alyas said in his lecture at the American Enterprise Institute.
The strength of the relations between the GCC and the US is built on a deep-rooted and strategic alliance as well as on current and future shared interests and common goals, he added.
“The initiative to open up numerous channels for communication between the two sides aims to dispel any possible misunderstanding between the two sides,” he said.
Alyas added there were no concerns about the future of Gulf-US relations, pointing out that decades of shared interests gave a clear vision of their prospects.
However, he stressed the significance of enhancing the understanding by decision-makers, intellectuals and media in the US of the issues of concern to the region through steady contacts with the Gulf and regular visits to the Gulf countries.
Maysa Abdullateef Al Thawadi, Director of Media Follow Up at the Ministry of Information Affairs, who is representing Bahrain at the programme, last month said that a proper understanding of Gulf dynamics and deep unbiased insights into its civil society were among the best ways to enhance productive ties and practical relations between the region and the international community.
“There has been a tremendous transformation within the GCC thanks to the immense development across sectors of political, economic and social life,”, she said. “The areas of human rights, women, energy, investments and dialogue among cultures and civilisations have come a long way and the international community needs to be aware of the deep transformations. It should also be encouraged to become better aware of the GCC stances on regional and international issues that are affecting the world.”
Highlighting the need for think-tanks for a better appreciation of current political, economic, social and media trends in the region, Maysa said that the Gulf was keen on conveying a genuine image of the situation in the GCC countries and of their positions vis-à-vis core issues.
Maysa was in April in Europe to interact with European think-tanks as part of a delegation that comprised members from Bahrain, the current GCC chair, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar and the Riyadh-based GCC Secretariat General.
“The delegation called for ways to reinforce relations and expand cooperation with the think-tanks. We were also keen on a more productive partnership between the media and the think-tanks to help promote security and peace in the region and the world, combat extremism and terrorism and deepen tolerance and mutual acceptance between cultures,” she said.