Information Affairs Ministry’s Undersecretary, who is responsible for the Bahrain News Agency (BNA), Abdulrahman Mohammed Bahr, participated in the 45th General Assembly of the Federation of Arab News Agencies (FANA), currently held here under the patronage of the Jordanian Prime Minister, Dr. Hani Al-Mulki.

Heads and directors of Arab news agencies, and Secretary-General of News Agencies World Congress (NAWC) and Director-General of the Bulgarian Telegraph Agency (BTA), Maxim Minchev, were also present.

Director-General of the Jordanian News Agency (Petra), Faisal Al-Shboul, delivered a statement, in which he welcomed the participants, and wished the FANA General Assembly every success.

He also stressed the importance of mass media’s commitment to balanced discourse, as well as to their role of spreading awareness among the recipients.

Then, the representative of the Jordanian Prime Minister, and the State Minister for Media Affairs, Dr. Mohammed Al-Momani, also delivered a speech on behalf of the event patron.

He expressed hope that the FANA General would come up with positive results that would serve the Arab Nation’s issues, strengthen the media’s awareness-raising and development message, optimise the use of modern technology by media establishments through plans, programmes and clear messages to present facts, uncover misinformation, falsehood and extremism.

The Jordanian minister wished the participants success in achieving the goals of the FANA General Assembly.

After that, FANA Secretary-General, Dr. Fareed Iyar, also spoke during the opening session. He stressed the need for Arab media’s solidarity in light of the multiple challenges facing it, calling for enhancing positive interaction among Arab media establishments, and paying more attention to Arab media personnel through training them and increasing their knowledge.

Then, Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) Director-General, and FANA President, Shaikh Mubarak bin Daij Al-Ibrahim, highlighted the importance of the existence of news agencies, stressing the need to develop those agencies and strengthen their capabilities with the increasing use of electronic media programmes and applications.

He also said that news agencies should disseminate reliable and accurate news and stories, as well as to expose the terrorist organisations’ use of electronic media platforms, and uncover their poisonous ideology.

After that, the participants held a closed session in which they discussed a number of issues, including ways to enhance cooperation among Arab news agencies, as well as improving the level of professional performance and developing media and technical cooperation, in addition to the exchange of news and expertise among the member agencies.

The 45th FANA General Assembly decided to form a follow-up committee, under the leadership of FANA President, Shaikh Mubarak bin Daij Al-Ibrahim. The panel comprises Petra director-general, Faisal al-Shboul, and Middle East News Agency Board Chairman and Chief Editor, Ali Hassan, as members.

The committee aims to increase cooperation and coordination among Arab news agencies, as well as increase their interaction with their international counterparts.

Source : Fana News