A Joint Cooperation Agreement Signed Between The Iraqi Journalists Syndicate And The Saudi Journalists Association

BAGHDAD, IRAQ (NINA) - The Iraqi Journalists Syndicate (IJS) signed a joint cooperation agreement with the Saudi Journalists Association (SJA), which includes promoting and developing relations between the journalists of the two countries. The agreement, which was attended by the Saudi ambassador in Iraq Abdul Aziz al-Shammari, signed by the president of the Iraqi journalists Syndicate Muayyad al-Lami and by the Saudi side, the head of the Saudi Journalists Association Khalid bin Hamad al-Malik. The agreement aims to strengthen and develop the relationship between the journalists of both countries, in order to achieve the common interests of them, in a manner that leads to the development of the press and media work and to invest the expertise and competencies available in both countries. The terms of the agreement stipulate the organization of mutual visits between the two boards of directors of the two institutions, journalists and media in both countries, in order to contribute to the knowledge of the reality of the work of the media and press organizations in order to transfer the experiences and expertise that contribute to the development of the press work. The two parties undertake to request the official authorities in both countries to facilitate the entry of Journalists and gain visas to ensure effective participation in conferences, meetings, workshops and various activities. The agreement includes the participation of journalists of the two countries in training courses held by the signatories of the agreement or organized by other media institutions and in coordination with them. The two sides also agreed to hold a periodic meeting between the Council of the Iraqi Journalists Syndicate and the Saudi Journalists Association. The meeting shall be held at least twice a year, one in Iraq and the other in Saudi Arabia, provided that the agenda of this meeting includes the establishment of exhibitions and activities highlighting what has been accomplished by the signatories and to develop the necessary plans for the next stage to ensure the success and excellence of those events. It was also agreed to encourage media twinning between media institutions and press institutions in both countries. These institutions shall exchange news, media reports and press investigations related to the activities and achievements of the two countries or in accordance with the forms agreed upon by the two parties. The agreement also stipulates to encourages media professionals and media organizations to adopt professional standards when dealing with media, publishing news and press reports away from other influences. The two parties, in accordance with the terms of the agreement, seek to request the official authorities of both countries to provide study scholarships in specializations related to journalists nominated by the two institutions to study in the other country. This agreement shall enter into force for a period of two years from the date of its signature and renewed by the two parties' desire for another term./ End