Prioritising national interest emphasized

Manama, Apr 6 (BNA): Information Affairs Minister Ali bin Mohammed Al Rumaihi today paid a visit to Al-Watan daily newspaper and underlined the ethical, professional and legal responsibilities of press and media toward consolidating loyalty to the homeland, allegiance to the royal leadership and maintaining Bahrain's Arab identity, security, stability and sovereignty. Stressing prioritising the supreme national interest over political, sectarian dependencies, as well as external links. The minister reviewed with Editor-in-chief Yusuf Al-BinKhalil and Managing Editor Mohannad Abu-Zeitoun ways to promote cooperation and uplifting the press and media mission. The minister noted the freedom of expression enjoyed by journalists and media men, and their professional and ethical responsibilities and commitment to national and international legislations and conventions on press and media. He urged journalists and writers to boost the values of national unity, countering calls of division, hatred and violence and rejecting external interference in Bahrain's interior affairs targeting destabilizing the homeland security and undermining its reform and development march. He pointed out the press and media freedom and the intellectual diversity witnessed under the royal reform project, as well as the democratic march and economic openness enjoyed by Bahrain.