No privatization of Egyptian media
Egypt, Economics, 1/27/2000

Minister of Information Safwat el-Sherif said Tuesday that there will be no privatization of Egyptian media.

"Egyptian audio and visual media, with its national and regional channels, and radio and satellite networks, the first and second and Nile, will not be privatized," he stressed.

"Thematic Egyptian channels are not for sale in any form," the Minister said.

This attitude, the Minister added, is taken in order to maintain our self-identity, Egyptian culture and the Arabic language and realize a big and wide media balance.

Sherif said that media instruments belong to society and shall never be foregone.

Sherif expounded that the General Investment Authority shall be in charge of the Free Media Zone. It will receive requests for investment and license applications.

"The State encourages the private sector. The cabinet will issue the guidelines for the work of this area. The Free Media Zone provides a base to attract the entire world and not the Arab world only," Sherif added, stressing that it will work in complete freedom and with highly developed technological facilities.

Sherif expounded that private channels will have to abide by the guidelines to be issued and the media code of ethics.

"There is a serious offer from Al-Ahram and Al-Akhbar press establishments to launch a space channel," the minister said.

"There will be no rigid rules. But there will be a media code of honor which stipulates that there should be no infringement on religions and values and traditions should be respected (no sex and no violence)," Sherif stressed.

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