Bahrain Praises Arab News Agencies' Coverage of National and International Events

Manama, December 26 (QNA) - Bahrain's Prime Minister, Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa met here on Wednesday with heads of Arab news agencies led by Qatar News Agency (QNA) General Director and Chairman of the Federation of Arabian News Agencies (FANA), Ahmed Saad Al-Buainain on the occasion of the convention of the 40th FANA General Assembly in Manama. Bahrain's Minister of State for Information Affairs, Samira Ibrahim bin Rajab attended the meeting. During the meeting, Bahrain's Prime Minister praised the remarkable important role played by Arab news agencies in local and international events' coverage and wide circulation. Furthermore, he urged for uniting Arab media against defamation, and fragmentation attempts which target the Arab nation, asserting that the safety of one Arab state means the safety of all other states. Bahrain's Prime Minister also called for developing Arab media to keep abreast with latest modernization of media technologies and techniques, excellence, speediness and diversity. Meanwhile, Qatar News Agency (QNA) General Director and Chairman of the Federation of Arabian News Agencies (FANA), Ahmed Saad Al-Buainain, expressed utmost gratitude and appreciation to Bahrain's Prime Minister and the Kingdom of Bahrain for hosting the Federation's General Assembly and praised the facilities granted by the Kingdom of Bahrain and the support of the Prime Minister which contributed to hold this event and reach best outcomes. For his part, FANA Secretary-general, Dr. Fareed Ayyar, lauded the Kingdom of Bahrain's accomplishments and development in all fields, especially in the media sector, which qualified Bahrain to become the Capital of Arab Press for year 2012 reflecting the atmosphere of freedom and openness it enjoys. (QNA)