IAA president praises the King's keynote address

President of the Information Affairs (IAA) Shaikh Fawaz bin Mohammed Al Khalifa has praised the keynote address delivered by His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa during the opening of the third session of the third legislative term, asserting that it represents a modern vision of comprehensive and continuous reform, democracy and respect of human rights and expression within a state of law and constitutional institutions. Shaikh Fawaz expressed IAA's commitment to implementing HM the King's sound directives through upgrading the media message and enhancing its role in supporting comprehensive development plans and projects, consolidating national unity, promoting legal and human rights culture, denouncing violence, extremism and terrorism, fostering values of dialogue and communal partnership in safeguarding national security and stability and protecting the kingdom's reform achievements in the political, economic, social and human rights fields. He also underlined IAA's keenness to promote the kingdom's parliamentary experience through preparing radio and television programmes that shed light on the achievements of the Legislative Branch in the legislative and auditing fields, as well as citizen-oriented programmes, citing the new weekly show, "Parliamentary Culture," presented in cooperation with the Bahrain Institute for Political Development. He also revealed that the draft Media Law, prepared by IAA, meets the wise leadership's expectations regarding the incrimination of everything that undermines national unity and social security through guaranteeing responsible freedom of opinion and expression, banning the exploitation of the press and media freedoms in inciting violence, sectarianism, hatred, law-breaking or harming public morals and rejecting any abuse of social rights, liberties and civilizational and religious values. In this context, IAA President called upon the press and media community to reach consensus on the Press Code of Conduct and adhere to the principles of the Professional Code of Conduct for Audio-Visual Media and Code of Media Ethics, as the best way to ensure transparency and objectivity based on credibility, mutual respect and adherence to public interest. Shaikh Fawaz also confirmed that IAA is committed to His Royal Highness Prime Minister Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa's directives regarding the effective interaction with Arab and foreign media outlets and respond to distortion and misinformation campaigns in order to highlight the reality of the political and security developments in the country, as well as the kingdom's democratic and human rights strides, attained in light of HM the King's pioneering Reform Project. On the occasion, Shaikh Fawaz extended sincere thanks and appreciation to HM King Hamad, His Royal Highness Prime Minister Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa and His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince and Deputy Supreme Commander, for their constant support for enhancing cooperation between the Executive and Legislative branches, so as to achieve national interests and ensure the continuity of the kingdom's renaissance march.