GCC slams joint statement

Riyadh, Sept. 15(BNA): The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) condemned the joint statement delivered by the Permanent Representative of the Swiss Federation on behalf of a group of states under agenda item (2) of the 30th session of the Human Rights Council, which commenced regarding the internal affairs in Bahrain. Convening for its 136th session, the GCC ministerial council slammed the statement which contained fallacies and fabrications regarding the situation of human rights in Bahrain. In a statement today, the council hit back at the joint statement for failing to acknowledge the tangible progress documented in official reports which were issued recently. "The joint statement ignores the developed strategies adopted by the Government of Bahrain to consolidate human rights and ensure citizens decent living standards, in addition to rights guaranteed in the reform project which was initiated by His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifa. The council backed all the steps taken by the Kingdom of Bahrain to disseminate human rights and implement all international resolutions. It announced that the GCC member states would take the necessary measures to defend their interests against countries which adopted such a stance against Bahrain and other Arabian Gulf countries.