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Bahrain names new GCC head

MANAMA - Bahrain on Thursday nominated its current chief of Public Security, Major-General Abdullateef bin Rashid Al Zayani, as a new candidate to head the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).

During the upcoming GCC summit in Abu Dhabi, Al Zayani will be officially accepted as the Secretary-General of the economic and political bloc, a post that rotates between the six 
members countries.

The former Minister of Information, Dr Mohammed Al Mutawa, was Bahrain’s first choice for the post, but the kingdom reconsidered its decision as a response to a recommendation made by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud. His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and the Qatari Amir His Highness Shaikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani accepted the nomination on Wednesday, according to the Bahrain News Agency (BNA).

This follows the mediation efforts by Saudi Arabia to calm a Qatar-Bahrain row over the previous nominee. Qatar was reportedly opposed to Al Mutawa’s nomination for the post.

Bahrain has praised King Abdullah’s mediation efforts. Analysts say tension has been high since Bahrain initially nominated Mohammad Al Mutawa, widely said to be disliked by Qatar for his role in a territorial dispute between the two states.

shamada@khaleejtimes.com