Information Affairs Ministry’s Undersecretary, who is responsible for Bahrain News Agency (BNA), Abdulrahman Mohammed Bahr, participated in the 45th General Assembly of the Federation of Arab News Agencies (FANA), held under the patronage of the Jordanian Prime Minister, Dr. Hani Al-Mulki.
Heads and directors of Arab news agencies, and Secretary-General of News Agencies World Congress (NAWC) and Director-General of the Bulgarian Telegraph Agency (BTA), Maxim Minchev, were also present.
Director-General of the Jordanian News Agency (Petra), Faisal Al-Shboul welcomed the participants, and wished the FANA General Assembly success.
He also stressed the importance of media’s commitment to balanced discourse as well as to their role of spreading awareness.
The representative of the Jordanian Prime Minister, and the State Minister for Media Affairs, Dr. Mohammed Al-Momani, also delivered a speech on behalf of the event patron.
He expressed hope that the FANA assembly would come up with positive results that would serve the Arab Nation’s issues, strengthen media’s awareness-raising and development message, optimise the use of modern technology by media establishments through plans, programmes and clear messages to present facts, and uncover misinformation, falsehood and extremism.
The minister wished the participants success in the FANA General Assembly.
FANA Secretary-General, Dr. Fareed Iyar, also spoke during the opening session. He stressed the need for Arab media’s solidarity in light of the multiple challenges facing it, calling for enhancing positive interaction among Arab media establishments, and paying more attention to Arab media staff through training them and increasing their knowledge.
Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) Director-General, and FANA President, Shaikh Mubarak bin Daij Al-Ibrahim, highlighted the importance of the existence of news agencies, stressing the need to develop them and strengthen their capabilities with the increasing use of electronic media programmes and applications.
He also said that news agencies should disseminate reliable and accurate news and stories, as well as expose the terrorist organisations’ use of electronic media platforms and uncover their poisonous ideology.
The participants held a closed session in which they discussed a number of issues, including ways to enhance cooperation among Arab news agencies, as well as improve the standards of performance and develop media and technical cooperation, in addition to exchange news and expertise among the member agencies.

The 45th FANA General Assembly decided to form a follow-up committee, under the leadership of FANA President, Shaikh Mubarak and comprising Al-Shboul, and Middle East News Agency Board Chairman and Chief Editor, Ali Hassan, as members.
The committee aims to increase cooperation and coordination among Arab news agencies, as well as increase their interaction with their international counterparts.

Source: BNA