Gulf information ministers threaten to boycott al-Jazeera station
Gulf-Qatar, Politics, 10/11/2002

Arab Gulf sources said that the information ministers of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) member states have warned al-Jazeera TV station in Qatar that it has to lessen its controversial programs, otherwise it will not get any cooperation.

A source said that the warning was issued during the meeting of the Gulf information ministers in Oman on Wednesday.

One Gulf minister who attended the meeting told reporters "we support the freedom of expression in the Gulf, but we do refuse a "a news organization which is skillful in using an aggressive and humiliating tone." Another high ranking source said that the GCC information ministers expressed their regret, in particular, over "al- Itijah al-Mu'akis" ( the opposite direction) program which is broadcasted by al-Jazeera for hosting guests of varied and opposite different political affiliations.

The source added that the ministers hope that al-Jazeera will adopt a more discipline tone, otherwise the GCC will ask both the private and public sector not to broadcast advertisement for the said channel.

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