Democratic advances in Morocco were not accompanied by progress in media sector, minister
Morocco, Politics, 10/1/2004

Moroccan communication minister, Nabil Benabdellah, deplored, here Wednesday, that the "important strides achieved at the democratic level have not been accompanied by a progress in the media sector, in general, and the audiovisual in particular."

Benabdellah, who was speaking before a parliament commission on the audiovisual draft law, noted that this law is an important step towards setting up a legal framework to liberalize the sector, a process that started with the promulgation of the Dahir on the creation of the High Authority for Audiovisual Communication (HACA) and with the Decree ending the State monopole of the sector.

Benabdellah said his department is committed to addressing all files related to the staff working in the audiovisual sector in order to improve their financial situation and working conditions. The minister voiced hope that the draft law on the audiovisual sector will come into force in January 2005.

Representatives of parliamentary groups at the House of Advisors (upper chamber) said at a meeting Wednesday the audiovisual law guarantees a broader choice for citizens as to access to information.

They noted, however, that the liberalization of the audiovisual sector is different from that of other sectors given its "sensitivity," its role in orienting the national public opinion and its influence on social values.

They said it is important to protect this liberalization of any risks of deviation.

The draft law was approved last July by the House of Representatives (lower chamber) and still has to be passed by the House of Advisers.

The law also aims at reforming the public audiovisual sector by turning the Moroccan Radio and Television into "the national company of Radio-Television" and maintaining the TV channel "2M" as a public service.

Under the draft law, no party will be allowed to hold over 51 percent in the capital of an audiovisual company.

Previous Stories:
  AL Khaleej: Morocco open to solution securing sovereignty over Sahara, Academic   (9/28/2004)
  South Africa's paper says Pretoria's decision to recognize SADR is 'precipitous'   (9/20/2004)
  Spanish right and pro-PP media wage war on Morocco, Press   (9/16/2004)

Please add a link on your webiste pointing to ArabicNews.com and bookmark ArabicNews.com & subscribe to our daily email news bulletin.

Search