Leadership's support to national press hailed

Manama, May 9 (BNA): Following the directives of His Royal Highness Prime Minister Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa on the Bahrain Press Day, Information Affairs Minister Ali bin Mohammed Al-Rumaihi has affirmed that work is underway to prepare a draft modern and enlightened law to consolidate press and media freedoms on the bases of responsibility, professionalism and transparency, in consultation with the relevant parties. The minister voiced the press and media community's pride in the appreciation of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, HRH Premier, and His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and First Deputy Prime Minister of the role of the national Press, and the journalists' exercise of their duties freely and independently in a more advanced legislative and regulatory environment within the framework of intellectual pluralism and easy access to news and information and their dissemination. Al-Rumaihi pointed that the new law will be more advanced and more comprehensive than the existing one issued as per Decree-Law 47/2002, explaining that it will take into consideration the latest developments in the media and communication sector, as well as in the information and communication technology (ICT), including the electronic media. It will also strengthen commitment to the regulations, as well as to professional and ethical standards that are compatible with the press and media charters and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. He added that the current political, security and technological challenges require journalists and media personnel to adhere to honesty, credibility and transparency to safeguard the higher interests of the nation and all citizens, support reforms, democracy and sustainable development through promoting the values of fraternity and tolerance among all the components of the Bahraini society, maintain civic and social peace and refrain from issuing destructive calls for discord, religious sectarianism or racial hatred, as stipulated in the Constitution, the Law and international covenants. The minister affirmed that the Bahraini media development plans and programmes will continue in order to consolidate the role of the free and responsible media in protecting security and stability, cementing national unity and social cohesion and optimising the national and democratic achievements attained within the reform project spearheaded by His Majesty the King.