KUNA’s Chief Sheikh Mubarak Al-Duaij re-elected FANA president for 2nd term
Kuwait News Agency, PETRA sign co-op accord
AMMAN, Nov 22, (KUNA): The 45th Assembly of the Federation of Arab News Agencies (FANA) have unanimously and by acclamation re-elected KUNA’s Chairman and Director General Sheikh Mubarak AlDuaij Al-Ibrahim Al-Sabah as FANA President for a second two-year term.
The meeting that kicked off in Amman on Wednesday, attended by the chiefs of the Arab news agencies, also agreed that Kuwait would host the next assembly.
President of the News Agency World Council (NACO) Maxim Minchev, who is also Director General of the Bulgarian News Agency (BTA), attended the assembly sponsored by Jordanian Prime Minister Hani Al-Mulki.
In an opening address, Sheikh Mubarak Al-Duaij reiterated the significant role of the mass media and news agencies in combating extremist and religious thinking and terrorism.
In particular, they “have a major role that precedes all in countering religious and extremist thinking, as well as fighting strange and intruder thoughts that lead to violence and terrorism.” This is a huge and sophisticated responsibility that prompt further cooperation and synergy, he added.
The FANA and KUNA Chief reaffirmed the need to promote news agencies’ capabilities, referring to the spread of misleading news and information through social media, with no legal or ethical disciplines.
This has made it inevitable for discreet news agencies to act as a “fortified defensive wall” against such trends through publishing true and reliable information, he stressed.
He noted that Takfiri and extremist groups have come to use the media as a platform to disseminate poisonous thoughts among the public, hence news agencies have to expose this.
FANA enjoys various advantages that have enabled the federation to carry on despite hindrances that faced it, Sheikh Mubarak Al-Duaij said.
The federation has managed over the past years to boost its status through participation in international events, concluding agreements with specialized world organizations and taking part in training p;rograms, he said.
He recalled the 35th assembly, held in Amman a decade before, when participants reiterated the massive responsibility FANA shouldered requiring sound and best employment of the federation’s potentials.
Future
Future is promising if keenness is doubled to provide all that could guarantee moral and financial support for FANA’s sustainability, he said.
Sheikh Mubarak Al-Duaij highly appreciated the support he received over the past two years, lauding eagerness displayed by FANA’s Secretary General Fareed Ayar for executing the federation’s mission with a “developed mentality” and “sedate action.” Finally, he thanked the Jordanian Premier for patronizing the 45th Assembly, and the Director General of Jordan News Agency (Petra) Faisal Al Shboul and Petra’s staff for providing necessary requirements to secure success for the conference. Addressing the assembly on behalf of the Prime Minister, Jordan’s Minister of State for Media Affairs, and government official spokesman, Mohammad Al Momani, said that technical developments of the media and its wide spread and variety have come to constitute a huge challenge for the media institutions, particularly officials ones.
Official and non-official media are required to keep pace with such developments so that they would not allow non-professionals to dominate the media scene and negatively affect individuals and the society.
Meanwhile, Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) and Jordan News Agency (Petra) on Tuesday penned a cooperation program to increase news services reciprocity and to foster technical coordination.
The document – inked by Petra’s Director General Faisal Shboul and the President of the Federation of Arab News Agencies (FANA), as well as Chairman and Director General of KUNA Sheikh Mubarak AlDuaij Al-Ibrahim Al-Sabah – will bolster the two news providers’ professional work and sustain swift flow of mutual news items.
According to the Petra, the two parties pledged to coordinate news coverage efforts to serve the two countries’ visions and interests on regional and global arenas.
They will also exchange news materials and footages, and concomitantly preserve original goals of their release in accordance with the profession’s applicable norms, and direct reference to their source.
Sheikh Mubarak Al-Duaij told KUNA that it was important to bolster cooperation programs between KUNA and Petra, affirming that it would lead to the overall development of Arab news agencies.
On his part, Shboul said this step would promote cooperation between the two Arab countries, adding “current circumstances need exceptional collaborative efforts among Arab news agencies.” Kuwait’s Ambassador to Jordan Sheikh Hamad Al-Duaij attended the signing ceremony of the accord.
Meanwhile, the 45th FANA General Assembly will be held on Wednesday in Jordan with the event being chaired by Sheikh Mubarak Al-Duaij.
The event will see the participation of the Federation’s 18 members in addition to international participants.