[02/01/2018 05:19]

RIYADH-SABA
Minister of Information Muammar al-Eryani and the Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council Abdullatif Al Zayani have discussed the Houthi rebels' abuses against the Yemeni people especially journalists.

In a meeting in Riyadh on Tuesday, the two officials addressed the systematic killings and abductions practiced to silence the press and the potential role of the media outlets in Yemen and the GCC to expose those abuses. Al-Eryani spoke highly of the GCC secretariate's role in backing the Yemeni government led by President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi.

"The Gulf and Yemeni blood mixed together … to defend Yemen's dignity and Arabhood," al-Eryani said in reference to the joint GCC and Yemen fight to reverse the Iran-backed rebels.

He said that the Yemeni people "will not forget this sincere and brotherly stances (toward Yemen) a generation after generation."

Al-Eryani pointed to the enormous support that Saudi Arabia provided to Yemeni media and hosting Yemen's state TVs, radios, news agency and other outlets including by hosting them when they were forced to leave the country by the Houthi rebels in 2015 and by assisting them to resume news production.

He especially appreciated the support of King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in this regard. He said that journalists were the first to defend their nation, Arab character and dignity.

Al Zayani said the inclination of the GCC is to incorporate Yemen economically in the GCC bloc. He said that Yemen will see the good days once the war is over and the government is back in total control.

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