CAIRO, June 8 (KUNA) — The council of Arab information ministers commenced its 38th round of meetings, headed by Qatar”s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Sheikh Ahmad bin Abdullah Al-Mahmoud, with the participation of Kuwaiti Information Minister Dr. Anas Al-Rshaid.
Speakers at the first session were Qatar, Palestine and Arab League Secretary-General Amr Moussa who focused on media in highlighting political and Arab issues at international conventions, especially in relations to resistance in Jerusalem, as well as in shedding light on Israeli threats to the city and violation of the sanctity of the Al-Aqsa Mosque.
The session also discussed Israel”s separation wall, the suffering of Palestinian children and families, protecting Palestinian journalists and coordinating Arab media in light of current challenges.
Arab information ministers are to hold a social session on the role of Arab media in combating terrorism.
Participants include information ministers of Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Bahrain, Oman, Morocco, Sudan, Yemen, Palestine and Mauritania, as well as information ministry representatives from Algeria, Lebanon, Djibouti, Somalia, the UAE and the Comoros Islands. Representatives of information institutes in countries where there are no information ministries include Qatar, Libya, Jordan, Tunisia and Iraq.
Meanwhile, Arab League Director of Media Dr. Mahmoud Abdul-Aziz said in statements to the press on Wednesday that the council”s final communique would include eight points rejecting and condemning all forms of terrorism, as well as refusing that it be linked to religion, culture, race or geographic location.
The communique would also stress the right of people to resist occupation, as well as the importance of eradicating the roots of terrorism, he said.
On a different note, Arab information ministers launched today the council”s website which was constructed upon an Egyptian initiative and aimed at presenting Arab opinions and handling counter-media attacks.
Arab League Secretary-General Amr Moussa held a deliberation meeting with the Arab information ministers prior to the council meetings to discuss the agenda, stressing the importance of activating joint Arab media action with regard to the Palestinian issue.