Bahrain to host 3rd Gulf Media Forum in November

Manama, Oct.27 (BNA): The third edition of the Gulf Forum for Political Media will open on November 11 at the Gulf Hotel under the patronage of Deputy Premier Shaikh Khalid bin Abdulla Al-Khalifa. Bahrain Institute for Political Development (BIPD) is organizing the symposium for the third time in a row under the theme "Media and Civil Peace", in the presence of thinkers, political and media figures from the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and the Arab World. His Majesty’s Advisor for Information Affairs and BIPD Board of Trustees’ Chairman Nabil bin Yacoub Al-Hamer paid tribute to Deputy Premier Shaikh Khalid bin Abdulla Al-Khalifa for patronizing the forum. He stressed the importance of the forum as a platform to debate vital media issues, affirming the keenness of the think tank to continue its role in advocating dialogue which reflects the atmosphere of freedom and openness in the prosperous era of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifa. He affirmed Bahrain’s unwavering commitment to foster opened political media discourse and consolidate the values of peaceful coexistence, tolerance, acceptance of others and rejection of fanaticism. He hailed the third edition of the forum as a platform to highlight Bahrain’s democratic strides on the path to build a modern state based on justice and respect of rights and liberties. The list of keynote speakers and participants includes Arab League Assistant Secretary-General Khalil Al-Thawadi, Shura Council First Deputy Chairman Jamal Fakhro, former GCC Assistant Secretary-General for political affairs Saif Al-Maskari, Saudi Al-Jazira newspaper editor-in-chief Khalid Malik and other key figures. GCC and Arab Winners of the maiden Gulf Forum for Political Media Award will also be honoured. The first edition of the prize has been put under the theme "Consolidating the Culture of Difference". The forum includes three sessions which spotlight the vital role of conventional media in fostering civil peace, modern media between exclusion and inclusion and the consolidation of the culture of civil peace.