Information minister-lecture on restructuring media establishment

Syria's Information Minister Mehdi Dakhlallah said that his ministry is exerting incessant efforts in order to deal with a number of issues related to the restructuring the official media establishment.

In a lecture delivered today, he pointed out that important steps have been so far taken following the merger of al-Wahda Establishment,Tishrin and the Publications Distribution Establishment within one administration.

He added that there were plans to turn the TV and Radio establishment to viable economic entities.

He pointed out that there are 78 privately licensed publications in Syria in addition to scores of applications for new publications.

He said that there is an idea of establishing radio stations that transmit news in cooperation with the Syrian News Agency, SANA, and the number of applications for opening private radio stations have reached eight so far.

He added that there were serious attempts to issue a law permitting the establishment of private TV stations in addition to 60 applications for establishing publishing houses.