Journalists told to be polite when reporting impoliteness
Lebanon, Local, 9/24/1997

Lebanese journalists were advised on September 23 by the president of the Press Association to drop provocative or contemptuous statements when quoting politicians engaged in disputes with each other, commenting on the scathing insults traded between Foreign Minister Fares Boueiz and Minister for the Displaced Walid Jumblat. Mohammed Balbaki called on reporters to purge the political discourse of personal insults and empty accusations.

"The media is not supposed to carry words which contradict the principles of decent political discourse as much as they are supposed to express their points of view within the confines of our code of honor," Balbaki said in a statement.

His views were echoed by Rushayd Khazen, who like Boueiz is a member of parliament for Kesrouan.

We call on all Lebanese personalities to show solidarity and put an end to controversies verbal, attacks on religious authorities and all manner of cynicism Khazen said in a meeting of Kesrouan notables.

He was referring to Joumblat's vocal criticism of the Maronite patriarch Cardinal Nasrallah Butros Sfeir, triggered by the Cardinal's criticism of Syria's role in Lebanon.

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