Commitment to supporting Arab Coalition stressed

Jeddah, June 23 (BNA): Information Affairs Minister, Ali bin Mohammed Al-Romaihi, participated in the meeting of the information ministers of the member countries of the Arab Coalition to Support Legitimacy in Yemen, held at the Conferences Hall here today. The meeting discussed ways to develop media plans to support Yemen’s legitimate government in the face of the Iranian and Houthi media’s distortive coverage. It also aims to highlight the crimes committed by the Houthi militias against the brotherly Yemeni people, as well as to organise media campaigns to expose facts to the Arab public opinion through shedding light on Iran’s support to the coup militias by supplying them with weapons and ballistic missiles. In his speech, the minister conveyed to his counterparts greetings from His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, as well as his wishes of every success in enhancing joint Arab media action. Al-Romaihi extended sincere thanks and appreciation to Saudi Arabia, led by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud, for the warm welcome and hospitality accorded to the participants, in line with its constant support for just Arab and Islamic issues, paying tribute to the Saudi Minister of Media Dr. Awwad bin Saleh Al-Awwad for organising the meeting. The minister stressed that the current security challenges and military risks targeting Arab security, identity, unity and national sovereignty require all media outlets to assume their ethical, professional and pan-Arab responsibilities, given the media’s status as a basic weapon and a strategic partner to the armed forces in the battle fields to defend joint Arab security in the face of extremist terrorist organisations and the blatant Iranian interference. Al-Romaihi stressed that thanks to HM King Hamad’s directives, Bahrain’s military and media sectors are always keen to rally together with Saudi Arabia and its good efforts to promote security and peace across the region, combat extremism and terrorism in all their forms and counter all external threats and interference. The minister stressed that Bahrain’s “effective” participation in the Arab Coalition to Support Legitimacy in Yemen and the Operation Restoring Hope there are in line with its religious, national and human fundamentals, commitment to defending the legitimate government in Yemen based on its request, and keenness to activate the Arab conventions and summits’ resolutions, the last of which those issued by the “Al-Quds Summit” held earlier this year in Al-Dhahran, Saudi Arabia. Al-Romaihi praised the relief, medical and development aid and projects delivered by the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre, along with Bahrain’s Royal Charity Organisation and other Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and Arab humanitarian institutions, to the warn-torn Yemeni people, calling on Arab countries to rally ranks to effectively face Iran and its terrorist arms, abhorrent expansionist and sectarian policies, as well as destructive terrorist activities. He also called on the International Community to assume its responsibilities through putting an end to Iran’s hostile interference in Arab countries’ internal affairs. The minister, in his speech, also outlined five ways to strengthen media support to the Saudi-led Arab Coalition to Support Legitimacy in Yemen. Supporting coalition’s efforts These include supporting the efforts of the coalition, within the member states’ full compliance with the International Humanitarian Law for the sake of protecting the interests of the brotherly Yemeni people, as well as safeguarding its security and preserving its Arab identity, national unity and social fabric, he said. Highlighting relief aid efforts They also include highlighting the relief, medical and development aid and projects delivered by the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre, along with Bahrain’s RCO and other Gulf GCC and Arab humanitarian institutions. Taking legal action against inciting channels Supporting the coalition could also be through taking legal, professional and technical actions against some Arab satellite channels that spread sedition to stop their inciting and provocative activities and malicious attempts to create chaos, hostility, hatred, and to divide the region on ideological, religious and sectarian bases. Cooperation in combating cybercrimes The Minister also called for activating security, legislative and judicial measures, and seriously cooperate in implementing the agreements on combating cybercrimes and terrorism to ensure that modern technology and social media networks are not misused in disseminating and promoting the ideology of terrorist organisations. Facing smear campaigns, refuting lies He also called for unifying stances in the face of external campaigns staged by suspicious regional and international media outlets and organisations to refute fallacies and lies. The minister expressed hope that the meeting will issue resolutions that support the member states’ joint action towards activating the media’s pivotal role in preserving Arab identity and religion, and protecting the Arab Nation’s security and development march, as the best means to achieve the aspiration of Arab countries for security, stability and prosperity, and to put an end to foreign conspiracies and attempts to spread sedition and hatred.