RIYADH: Information ministers from Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states discussed here on Tuesday a range of regional issues, including the importance of launching a joint Gulf media network to provide information on internal and external issues as well as to counter bashing by a section of the international media.

The ministers were here to attend the 24th ministerial meeting of the GCC information ministers.

During the meeting, a number of issues relating to a joint GCC media action was discussed, a GCC official here said.

Supporting the move, Kuwaiti Information Minister Sheikh Salman Al-Hamoud Al-Sabah said Gulf media should play an effective role in light of the current critical and sensitive circumstances in the Arab Gulf.

The ministers vowed to take appropriate legal and suitable action against those involved in insulting GCC countries.

The ministers also discussed the current situation in Yemen and the role of Saudi-led operations supporting the legitimate government to attain stability, the official said.

This was a follow-up meeting as the GCC also held an emergency meeting of the information ministers last month for consultation and coordination toward unification of media efforts to uncover what Houthi militias and and forces loyal to ousted President Ali Abdullah Saleh were doing to disrupt relief and humanitarian operations in Yemen.

The ministers noted that GCC states face many challenges including negative media campaigns which require them to address with united action based on long-term strategies and urgent media plans.

Earlier, the participating ministers were received at King Khaled International Airport by Dr. Adel Al-Toraifi, minister of culture and information, GCC ambassadors to the Kingdom, and senior officials from the Ministry of Culture and Information.

Those attending the meeting included Sheikh Salman Al-Hamoud Al-Sabah, Kuwaiti minister of information and minister of state for youth affairs; Sheikh Hamad bin Thamer Al-Thani, president of the Qatari Organization for Information; Sultan bin Ahmed Al-Jaber, minister of state and chairman of National Information Council (the UAE); Abdul-Moneim bin Mansour Al-Hassani, minister of information, Oman; and Ali bin Mohammed Al-Rumaihi, newly appointed Bahraini minister of information affairs.

Meanwhile, the GCC Council of Foreign Ministers announced they would hold the 138th session at the headquarters on Wednesday under the chairmanship of Foreign Minister Adel Al-Jubeir.

Commenting on the meeting, GCC Secretary-General Abdullatif Al-Zayani said that the foreign ministers will discuss what has been implemented regarding decisions of the GCC Supreme Council, including following up the implementation of the vision of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman on further strengthening joint GCC actions.