Arab information ministers agree in 42nd session on setting up commissariat-general to regulate Arab media

Ministers stress support for Palestinian rights, Jerusalem, importance of media in bringing peoples together

Saudi information minister says Arab media need new approach keeping up with fast-moving global changes

The 42nd Session of the Arab Information Ministers Council was held at the headquarters of the Arab League in Cairo under the theme of "Intellectual Property in New Media".

The session was chaired by Moroccan Minister of Communications Khalid Naciri; attended by Arab League Secretary General Amr Moussa; and participated by Arab Information Ministers.

The Kingdom's delegation to the session was led by Minister of Culture and Information Dr. Mohieddin bin Abdulaziz Khojah.

Khojah delivered a speech at the opening session of the Arab Information Ministers Council in which he conveyed the greetings of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and Crown Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Deputy Premier, Minister of Defense and Aviation and Inspector General, to the Arab Information Ministers and Arab League Secretary General participating in the 42nd Session of the Arab Information Ministers Council.

Dr. Khojah stressed the Arab world's need to new median in light of global changes. He also emphasized that the dialogue and the acceptance of differences of opinion are the basis of the media work, particularly the establishment of dialogue values among ourselves and with others. This approach is taken by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques as a means to interact with others.

Minister of Culture and Information Dr. Khojah stressed the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's commitment to support for the plan for enhancing Arab media abroad in several stages for a period of five years. This plan was earlier approved by the Arab Information Ministers Council. He also pointed out that the Kingdom is committed to paying its financial contribution to this plan in its first year in 2007, and transferred its contribution for the years 2008 and 2009 which amounted to SR 4,725,000.

Dr. Khojah also highlighted the significant achievements of the Council through its past session.

Khojah met Egyptian Information Minister Anas El-Fiqi.

During the meeting, they discussed issues of Arab media action as well as ways of enhancing coordination in the field of media between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Egypt.

The meeting dealt with issues on the agenda of the 42nd session of the Arab Information Ministers Council to be held tomorrow at the headquarters of the Arab League.

The meeting was attended by Saudi Arabia's Permanent Representative to the Arab League Ambassador Ahmed Abdulaziz Qattan and the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Culture and Information for Media Affairs Dr. Abdullah Al-Jasser.

The Arab information ministers have agreed on establishing a commissariat-general for the Arab media to regulate the radio and TV broadcasting.

The decision was taken at the conclusion of the 42nd meeting of the Arab Information Ministers' Council held at the Arab League headquarters in Cairo.

The Sultanate of Oman's delegation to the meeting was led by Hamad bin Mohammed bin Mohsin Al Rashdi, minister of information.

They also agreed on holding, within the coming months, an exceptional meeting for the council to discuss the integrated feasibility study of the secretariat-general of the Arab League on the proposed commissariat.

The ministers also decided to form a team to follow up the enforcement of the decisions taken by the council of the Arab League at both the ministerial and summit levels. They agreed on forming awareness programs on the benefits of the peaceful use of technology and spread the culture of nuclear issues and security among the public.

The ministers assigned the Arab Radio Union in cooperation with Arabsat and Nilesat, Al Khalij Radio and TV and Egypt Satellite Company with preparation of a study on alternatives for the proposed foreign language-speaking channels.

The ministers also agreed to establish a permanent committee for intellectual property and refer the issue to the Arab League for final approval.

The ministers called on the Arab Media for intensifying their efforts in terms of bringing to the public the crimes and offensives committed by Israel against the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. They also stressed the importance of Yemen's unity, stability and security.