Arab Journalists deal with politics and professional issues
Regional, Politics, 8/3/1998

The Arab Journalists' Union renewed its rejection of any normalization, under whatever form, with Israel and condemned organizations and associations set up as well as the pacts concluded by some Arab journalists and intellectuals under the pretext of peace, challenging the will of Arab nations and peoples.

The union's permanent bureau, which wound up a meeting in Alexandria on Saturday attended by some 15 professional organizations, underlined in a report its rejection of any direct or indirect normalization with Israel and called on Arab organizations, trade unions and bodies to set up a united front to consolidate the boycott of Israel.

The union also called for lifting the embargo against Libya and Iraq and urged Iraq to give clarifications on the fate of the Kuwaiti missing persons.

It recommended holding training sessions to the benefit of Arab newsmen and asked for the reactivation of the freedoms commission in order to strengthen the freedom of the press, mainly through the adoption of standardized legislation in matters of freedom of the press and protection of journalists. Special funds were allotted to this commission to enable it conduct its activities.

The Union deplored in this respect the recession of the freedom of speech in the Arab world and the political and legislative obstacles against the press and journalists as well as the heavy sanctions inflicted on newsmen in some Arab countries.

Secretary general of the Morrocan press union, Younes Moujahid said the bureau also recommended setting up an Arab fund that will assist Palestinian journalists in carrying out press and information projects and establishing a Palestinian press center in Jerusalem.

Moujahid, stressed the need to train Arab journalists in the field of union activities and to develop a plan for training and exchange of experiences between Arab associations and had called for the meeting to focus on professional issues rather than political issues that dominated debates.

He added that it is the union's task to improve the performance of Arab journalists who should be able to face Zionism and globalization.

He further told MAP bureau in Cairo that the meeting enabled participants to express their impressions and proposals and to examine the flogging sentence against Yemeni journalists.

The delegate of the Yemeni Journalists Union was disappointed that Arab journalists did not express solidarity with the sentenced journalists, except for the Moroccan union, Moujahid said, announcing that the meeting decided to set up a delegation that will visit Yemen to inquire about the situation.

The Moroccan delegation further proposed during the meeting that a study on the "management of public information media in the Arab world" be conducted.

Previous Stories:
  Egypt prevents Sudanese chief journalist from entering   (7/30/1998)
  Journalists' union meetings start tomorrow   (7/27/1998)
  Arab Journalists Union against jailing Kuwaiti daily editor in chief   (6/29/1998)

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

Search