Manama - Arab Today
Under the chairmanship of host country, Bahrain, the Arab Information Ministers Council held its 47th ordinary meeting here on Tuesday.
The meeting was attended by Arab League Secretary-General Dr. Nabil Al-Araby and representatives of a number of unions and organizations within the council.
Culture and Information Minister Dr. Adel Al-Toraifi led the Kingdom’s delegation to the meeting.
Addressing the meeting, he conveyed the greetings of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman to the participants, and wished them every success.
The minister confirmed the keenness of the Kingdom for a prosperous future for the Arab media. The Kingdom also seeks cooperation and integration in the service of the aspirations of the Arab peoples and to stand united in the face of challenges facing the Arab nation, including heinous crimes aiming to plant sedition, chaos and divisions in the Arab world and against whomever tries to spread skepticism to Arab and Islamic values and pillars.
He drew the attention of the meeting to taking care of the electronic media as a priority.
For his part, Ali Al-Rumaihi, minister in charge of information of Bahrain, who is the rotating chairman, called for the activation of an Arab media strategy to fight terrorism, extremism and violence.
He called on closing media channels which spread notions encouraging religious hatred, sectarianism, extremism, and terror.
He also called for filing suits against media outlets which attack Arab countries and he called on the media to abide by international civil and political rights which prohibit calling for hatred and terrorism.
He expressed pride at the participation of the Arab coalition in defending Arab national security and Arab unity.
Other speakers were Dr. Sultan Al-Jaber, chairman of the National Council for Information of the United Arab Emirates, and Al-Araby who was honored by the conference at the end of his tenure as secretary-general of the Arab League.
Also honored were several journalists, media martyrs and media institutions in addition to the best photographer and columnist.
Source: Arab News