Bahrain to host GCC Media Forum

MANAMA: The 1st Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Media Forum will kick off in Bahrain today. The theme of the two-day forum is “Media, Communications and National Security Means” and will see the participation of a large number of experts from the Gulf and Arab regions.

Bahraini Information Affairs Authority’s (IAA) President Ali Mohammed Al-Rumaihi told (KUNA) yesterday the meeting is a great chance to enhance the joint cooperating and coordination among the media institutions in the Gulf region, to best serve the national security of the GCC countries.

The meeting, the first of its kind, will see participation of 150 senior officials and experts in the media and communication affairs, he said. This event is held upon the decision of the GCC media officials to boost the joint GCC media strategy 2010-2020, he affirmed. This strategy aims at reaching balanced relations between media freedom, respect of professional and ethical regulations in the face of current challenges represented in the violence, radicalism and terrorism in the region.

The meeting will witness Kuwaiti participation, during which the speakers will tackle the rights and obligations of print, audio-visual media, besides the electronic social networks.

He hailed the deep-rooted ties between Kuwait and Bahrain, stressing Kuwait’s support of Bahrain’s security and stability.

The forum coincides with Bahrain’s nomination as the capital of Arab media for 20132014, he said. — KUNA