GCC members reaffirm solidarity with Bahrain

The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) members on Wednesday condemned "in the strongest terms" the terrorist bomb attack in Bahrain earlier this week, and reaffirmed "unequivocally" that the Kingdom's security is an "integral part" of theirs and that any threat to its safety is a "threat to all." On March 3rd a terrorist attack killed three policemen and injured more in the Kingdom of Bahrain. Acting on behalf of the six GCC members, Kuwaiti Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Mansour Ayyad Al-Otaibi sent a letter to Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon saying "in rejecting all forms of terrorism targeting Bahrain's stability and security, we stand in solidarity with the Government and people of Bahrain in the face of terrorism and blind violence." The letter was signed by all GCC Ambassadors but conveyed to Ban by Ambassador Al-Otaibi in his capacity as Chair of the GCC for the year 2014. "We reaffirm, unequivocally, that the security of the Kingdom of Bahrain is an integral part of the security of the GCC and its member states, and that any threat to its safety and integrity constitutes a threat to all," Al-Otaibi said in the letter. "We take this opportunity to thank and commend the policemen and women of the GCC countries that give their support and their lives to the stability of the Kingdom of Bahrain and the region," he added. He went on to say that "this senseless and cowardly act is prohibited by all religions and incriminated by all laws as it terrorized peaceful civilians and targets the security and stability of a member state of the GCC." Al-Otaibi expressed appreciation to the Statement Ban issued the same day condemning the terrorist attack, and reiterated the "message that such acts of violence cannot be justified by any cause. Recalling Ban's longstanding policy of firmly condemning terrorism in all its forms, Al-Otaibi said "we trust that your office will continue to give due attention to this serious matter and reaffirm the UN's position in combatting terrorism wherever it is perpetrated.