Information minister hails media’s role
MUSCAT: Sayyid Badr bin Saud al Busaidy, Minister Responsible for Defence Affairs, on Tuesday inspected the ground and marine operation scenes of the joint Omanibritish military exercise Al Saif Al Sareea 3 (Swift Sword 3).
As well as the military ground sites, the minister visited the Royal Navy of Oman’s ship Al Dhafira and the British Royal Navy ship HMS Albion both of which are part of the marine force participating in the joint exercise.
The minister was accompanied during the inspection visit by Lt Gen Ahmed bin Harith al Nabhani, Chief of Staff of the Sultan’s Armed, Rear Admiral Abdullah bin Khamis al Raisi, Commander of the Royal Navy of Oman (exercise deputy director), Major General Stuart Skeates, Commander of the British forces (assistant commander of the unified joint forces), Major-general Richard Stanford, and senior officers of the Sultan’s Armed Forces and the Royal British Army and the other military and security services.
At the end of the visit, the minister hailed the high level of coordination and planning between the Omani and British forces to achieve the aims of the exercise as per the royal directives of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos, the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces.
A number of senior officers of the Sultan’s Armed Forces and other military and security services, civil official, and retired senior army officers on Tuesday visited the commands centres of the joint exercise at Muaskar al Murtafa’a. MUSCAT: Dr Abdulmunim bin Mansour al Hasani, Minister of Information and official state spokesman of Al Saif Al Sareea 3, visited command and the media centre on Monday. Minister of Information hailed the management of the military operations, the sharing of data and briefing the public on the different national issues. “We are proud of the great efforts by the Sultan’s Armed Forces and other security and military organisations. No doubt that media is an important arm during peace and war times. The cooperation among the various media and civil organisations and the data provided under the supervision of the Moral Guidance at COSAF to the various media organisations plays an important role in raising awareness about military exercises,” the Minister of Information said. He affirmed the strength of the media, especially during the armed conflicts saying “media is the driving and effective force, especially during war times. This major media presence in the two exercises play an important role in conveying correct information to the local and international community”.
On his part, Brigadier Hassan bin Ali al Majini, Head of Moral Guidance and official military spokesman of Al Saif Al Sareea 3 hailed the efforts done by the media to cover the two war exercises. He also commended the role played by the media centre. The two exercises have provided a comprehensive training for media.”