IRNA Chief: Media Should Serve Dialog, Peace

Tehran, Nov 6, IRNA – IRNA Managig Director Mohammad Khoddadi said on Tuesday that the media should prepare the ground for promotion of dialogue and peace among people and governments instead of conflict and war. Speaking to new Cuban Ambassador to Tehran, Vladimir Andres Gonzalez Quesada, Khoddadi underlined importance and influence of information on relations between government and people and said today, no man can live without information and in this connection, the role of news agencies is crucial. He said cooperation between IRNA and national Cuban news agency (Prensa Latina) can pave the way for all-out expansion of Tehran-Havana cooperation in various domains, economic field in particular. He added that news agencies produce and disseminate information. “Cooperation between Iranian and Cuban mass media can help deepen ties between people and officials of the two countries.” “How information is used is very important. Information can serve peace or conflict and today all of us should try to see peace prevailing in the world, while preventing violence,” added Khoddadi. The IRNA chief said there is no excuse for massacre of human beings. “What’s happening in the Middle East, especially in Syria, is painful and all should denounce it. Dialogue should replace conflict. When there is possibility of dialogue, no conflict should take place and all should help prepare the ground for cooperation among developing states.” Elsewhere in his remarks, Khoddadi said the Syrian people are entitled to decide their own fate but the hegemonic powers are trying to decide their will on people based on their own interests. The Cuban ambassador for his part said consolidation of relations between Iran and Cuba was the most important goal of his mission as ambassador in Tehran. Meeting with IRNA Chief was the first meeting of the new Cuban Ambassador after submitting his credentials to Iranian President Hassan Rouhani last month. He said there are extensive grounds for expansion of relations between Tehran and Havana. “The doors of Cuban Embassy are open to IRNA and other Iranian media with an aim of receiving and exchanging information and promoting mutual ties.” He suggested further cooperation between Iranian and Cuban news agencies and said, “Hence, we can counter unfounded reports released worldwide against the two countries.” As a person living in the Middle East, especially in Syria, for 20 years, the Cuban diplomat deplored ongoing conditions in certain parts of the region. He said such news sources as IRNA and Hispan TV can be received in Cuba. After meeting IRNA Chief, the Cuban diplomat inspected different sections of IRNA.