IAA president affirms authority's readiness to host first GCC media forum

The Information Affairs Authority (IAA)'s President, H.E. Mr. Ali Mohammed Al-Rumaihi, affirmed the Authority's readiness to host the functions of the two-day 1st GCC Media Forum themed (The Media, Communications and National Security) slated for the period from 30 September until October 1, 2013 with expected participation of more than 150 GCC media personalities. Mr. Ali Al-Rumaihi accentuated the significance of exchanging opinion and ideas between media and communications experts and specialists and activation of the joint media work strategy for the years 2010-2020 in order to boost cooperation and coordination between Gulf media and communications in protecting national security and fortification of our communities against anything which threaten to jeopardize their cohesion, security and stability in the face of violence and terrorism as well as misleading media propaganda campaigns. The IAA President underlined the convening of the GCC Media Forum at a critical time which in turn reflects on the nature of issues and themes and also as the Arab region witnesses political and security challenges, which makes it imperative on regional and international media to publish news stories and information whilst upholding professional credibility and objectivism. The IAA President accentuated that the media and communications have a huge responsibility in spreading awareness of a legal and security culture and safeguarding national gains and boosting GCC security and stability. The media and communications should present correct information and tackle any suspicious attempts aimed to propagate lies, rumors, incitement, hatred, sectarianism, violence or to libel accomplished development and urbane feats. Mr. Al-Rumaihi added that this forum coincides with the Kingdom of Bahrain's designation as the Capital of Arab Media for the years 2013-2014. This should help present the true image of political reform as and democratization in the Kingdom and also showcase the atmospheres of press and media freedoms in Bahrain and the GCC countries and also confirm the role of the media in preserving security and stability. The IAA President, Mr. Ali Mohammed Al-Rumaihi, concluded by stressing the importance of such media forums in consolidating professional and ethical controls of media work in compliance with Arab and international media and rights conventions which support the freedom of opinion and responsible expression and aims to disseminate the values of tolerance and constructive dialogue and the shunning of any and all calls for incitement, hatred, divisionism, hostility, extremism or terrorism.