‘Jordan Festival enhances ties among Arab nations’

BUILDING BRIDGES: Festival represents important value in the contemporary media world

AMMAN: The 3rd edition of Jordan Festival for Arab Media at which the Sultanate takes part as a guest of honour, was opened at Amman, Jordan, on Tuesday under the auspices of Dr Jawad al Anani, Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs and Minister of Industry, Trade and Supply in Jordan and lasts up to August 25.

Dr Abdulmunim bin Mansour al Hasani, Minister of Information, Head of the Sultanate’s delegation said at a speech during the opening ceremony on Monday that while media has become a basic component in our life, still it has the biggest impact on listeners, readers and viewers.

He added that the festival represents an important value in the contemporary media world, which is characterised by rapid development.

He pointed out that such festivals extend bridges of understanding and enhance ties and bonds among Arab countries especially in the field of media.

He affirmed that the OmaniJordanian relations are distinguished in many fields and that such relations are enhanced through the continuous communication between His Majesty Sultan Qaboos and King Abdullah II Ibn al Hussein of Jordan.

Dr Jawad al Anani, Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs and Minister of Industry, Trade and Supply in Jordan said that media plays a basic role in fighting all forms of terrorism through raising awareness of truth about such terrorist groups and highlighting the tolerant picture of Islam.

Al Anani hailed the Sultanate as a guest of honour and considered its participation as a qualitative achievement for Arab cooperation and coordination.

The Organising Committee honoured Dr Abdulmunim alongside with some Arab officials, media men and artists including Salim bin Ali al Maqrashi from Oman.

Al Anani, accompanied by Dr Abdulmunim toured the Omani pavilion, which included an exhibition for photography, national documents, silverworks, traditional costumes, books published by the Ministry of Information and products of date palm fronds.

The festival includes an Omani Night that will include a speech by the Minister of Information.

During the Omani Night, many Arab media men will be honoured and a documentary on the Sultanate will be displayed.

The Omani Night will also include Oud performances, folklore dance shows and a lecture on the development of Omani media.