OANA Backs Iranˈs Proposal On Campaign Against Violence, Extremism

Bahrain, June 21, IRNA – Participating delegates at the 37th OANA Executive Board Meeting on Thursday approved Iranˈs proposal on the campaign against violence and extremism. The 37th meeting of Organization of Asia-Pacific News Agencies (OANA) Executive Board was held in Manama, Bahrain, from June 16-17. The proposal was made by the Managing Director of the Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) Mohammad Khoddadi. Based on the Iranian proposal, all member countries should avoid disseminating news, photos and news reports which might promote extremism, Khoddadi said. Referring to the expansion of extremism in the region and the world, he said Iranian President Hassan Rouhani made an official proposal to the United Nations during his keynote speech at the UN General Assembly meeting on the need to fight extremism and violence which was approved by the UN body. Since the UN as a most reliable international organization welcomed the idea, OANA can take proper action in dealing with the issue, he said. Head of Australia news agency welcomed the Iranian proposal and urged others to cast their vote to this end which was finally approved by other members. Iranˈs proposal was inserted in a memorandum of understanding between OANA and Federation of Arab News Agencies (FANA) in todayˈs meeting. In the meeting, they discussed high expectations from national news agencies as well as diversification of their news by using new multimedia technologies. OANA was established in 1961 with an aim of disseminating news among countries of the region with the support of UNCESO. SOME 44 news agencies from 35 countries in Asia and Pacific Ocean are members of OANA./end