ID :
48886
Wed, 03/04/2009 - 13:36
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/48886
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Ghobash upbeat about forthcoming media law
Abu Dhabi, March 4, 2009 (WAM) - Labour Minister and Chairman of National Media Council (NMC) HE Saqr Ghobash, has highlighted the role shouldered by the NMC to maximise efforts of the media establishments to play greater role in sustainable development in the country.
He told Emirates News Agency (WAM) in an interview that President HH Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Vice President and Prime Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, provide further opportunities to the media establishments to tackle their various responsibilities.
Ghobash noted that the NMC would spur the media establishments to spread culture of excellence and quality among employees nationwide.
He reiterated that the new draft law for media activities "is a qualitative shift in the UAE in regard to its comprehensiveness unlike 1980 law, which focuses on the journalistic activities and printings. Meanwhile, the new law is consonant with the media establishments and industry development trends".
Ghobash cited a turning point in history of the UAE journalism when Vice President and Prime Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum issued a decree banning arrest of journalists in relation with their work and the issuance of the Journalism Ethics, which was inked by the UAE Journalists Association and signed by the editor-in-chiefs of the local press. The document stresses freedom of expression and the right of public to get truth.
He emphasised that the move was epoch making in the history of UAE Journalism because it specified for the first time the rights and functions of the fourth State and commitment of the UAE to upgrade standard of the journalistic work.
Ghobash said the information and communication revolution has served our media plans in the UAE and abroad. The NMC site UAE Interact is a qualitative leap in dissemination of economic, political, social and cultural information in many languages on the Internet. It is the second best Google search about the UAE. WAM website also provides TV photos and news in Arabic and English languages. It receives broadcast of 30 GCC, Arab and International news agencies. WAM exchanges news with 20 Arab, Asian and European news agencies.
He stressed that the NMC would continue updating its services in line with its strategic planning, citing expansion in the use of the Internet as an example.
Ghobash said that NMC is preparing to take part at Shanghai International Expo 2010 with huge unprecedented pavilion in history of the UAE participation in the international exhibitions, adding that the participation comes after the UAE won golden award at Zaragoza expo last summer. He noted that the success was attributed to sustained support of the UAE leadership and continuous follow up from UAE Foreign Minister HH Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
"The UAE believes in openness to others in order to introduce them to our culture, civilisation landmarks of our comprehensive renaissance. Hence, we specially value our annual participation at GCC Days. The next event will be held in Italian Capital, Rome, in October 2009", he added.
Ghobash reiterated that the NMC provides direct support to achieve the objectives of the government on government development and service of employees in line with the instructions of Vice President, UAE Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum in this respect.
He noted that the new media draft law will be immediately effective after endorsement by President HH Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, indicating that the new media draft law will boost press freedom in the UAE, political and economic empowerment in a way that serves the issues of development and the national identity to keep abreast with the occupational and technical developments of the media in the UAE. The current media law was issued before 28 years ago.
Ghobash said that over 60 per cent of the articles of media law have been amended by the NMC in a manner that serves higher interest of the country, adding that the education, culture and media and legislative committees at the Federal National Council (FNC), as well as Journalism committee contributed in enriching media and general discussion about the new media draft law.
The features of the new media draft law, he continued, "Are based on principles of freedom of expression as inscribed in the UAE constitution. When the new law sets regulatory framework to exercise freedom, the aim is to preserve interests of the media establishments, media persons, national interest and cultural identity. This is familiar in media laws worldwide." Ghobash underscored that that the most conspicuous item in the new draft media law "is that it does not include any article that restrains freedom of speech in line with the instructions of Vice President and Prime Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum". It includes financial fines, which are left to judges to specify in the line with the regulations in this respect.
He added that the NMC has stressed that the "journalists should not be coerced to reveal sources of their information. This is an advanced step not only in the Arab world, but also in a number of European countries." Ghobash said the new draft law also includes an article, which calls on media persons to maximise flow of information from public agencies to the media establishments, which in turn will dispatch it to public. "This will meet the strategy of government in the field of government communication and boost transparency and assert the role of journalism to highlight practices or negative phenomenon.
He noted that the new draft law does not include any article about media censorship, but leaves it for public to judge what is written, and anything can be dealt with accordingly in line with the regulations in the new media draft law.
Ghobash noted that specialists, journalists association, media establishments, civil society and a number of academicians contributed to the new media draft law. References were made to the journalist laws in some Arab and foreign countries to develop the new draft law. After legal reviews from various legal and academic institutions in the UAE, the new media draft law was submitted to UAE President to endorse it.
He said that the current media law governs the issuance of media licensing in the country. On the media free zone, Ghobash said the NMC signed Memorandum of Understanding with many media free zones in line with the Cabinet decision in this respect.
About cooperation between the NMC with media in the UAE, Ghobash said "there are periodic meetings between the NMC and the Telecommunication Regulatory Authority and other competent authorities on radio broadcast and TV telecast, as well as with local dailies.
He told Emirates News Agency (WAM) in an interview that President HH Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Vice President and Prime Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, provide further opportunities to the media establishments to tackle their various responsibilities.
Ghobash noted that the NMC would spur the media establishments to spread culture of excellence and quality among employees nationwide.
He reiterated that the new draft law for media activities "is a qualitative shift in the UAE in regard to its comprehensiveness unlike 1980 law, which focuses on the journalistic activities and printings. Meanwhile, the new law is consonant with the media establishments and industry development trends".
Ghobash cited a turning point in history of the UAE journalism when Vice President and Prime Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum issued a decree banning arrest of journalists in relation with their work and the issuance of the Journalism Ethics, which was inked by the UAE Journalists Association and signed by the editor-in-chiefs of the local press. The document stresses freedom of expression and the right of public to get truth.
He emphasised that the move was epoch making in the history of UAE Journalism because it specified for the first time the rights and functions of the fourth State and commitment of the UAE to upgrade standard of the journalistic work.
Ghobash said the information and communication revolution has served our media plans in the UAE and abroad. The NMC site UAE Interact is a qualitative leap in dissemination of economic, political, social and cultural information in many languages on the Internet. It is the second best Google search about the UAE. WAM website also provides TV photos and news in Arabic and English languages. It receives broadcast of 30 GCC, Arab and International news agencies. WAM exchanges news with 20 Arab, Asian and European news agencies.
He stressed that the NMC would continue updating its services in line with its strategic planning, citing expansion in the use of the Internet as an example.
Ghobash said that NMC is preparing to take part at Shanghai International Expo 2010 with huge unprecedented pavilion in history of the UAE participation in the international exhibitions, adding that the participation comes after the UAE won golden award at Zaragoza expo last summer. He noted that the success was attributed to sustained support of the UAE leadership and continuous follow up from UAE Foreign Minister HH Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
"The UAE believes in openness to others in order to introduce them to our culture, civilisation landmarks of our comprehensive renaissance. Hence, we specially value our annual participation at GCC Days. The next event will be held in Italian Capital, Rome, in October 2009", he added.
Ghobash reiterated that the NMC provides direct support to achieve the objectives of the government on government development and service of employees in line with the instructions of Vice President, UAE Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum in this respect.
He noted that the new media draft law will be immediately effective after endorsement by President HH Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, indicating that the new media draft law will boost press freedom in the UAE, political and economic empowerment in a way that serves the issues of development and the national identity to keep abreast with the occupational and technical developments of the media in the UAE. The current media law was issued before 28 years ago.
Ghobash said that over 60 per cent of the articles of media law have been amended by the NMC in a manner that serves higher interest of the country, adding that the education, culture and media and legislative committees at the Federal National Council (FNC), as well as Journalism committee contributed in enriching media and general discussion about the new media draft law.
The features of the new media draft law, he continued, "Are based on principles of freedom of expression as inscribed in the UAE constitution. When the new law sets regulatory framework to exercise freedom, the aim is to preserve interests of the media establishments, media persons, national interest and cultural identity. This is familiar in media laws worldwide." Ghobash underscored that that the most conspicuous item in the new draft media law "is that it does not include any article that restrains freedom of speech in line with the instructions of Vice President and Prime Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum". It includes financial fines, which are left to judges to specify in the line with the regulations in this respect.
He added that the NMC has stressed that the "journalists should not be coerced to reveal sources of their information. This is an advanced step not only in the Arab world, but also in a number of European countries." Ghobash said the new draft law also includes an article, which calls on media persons to maximise flow of information from public agencies to the media establishments, which in turn will dispatch it to public. "This will meet the strategy of government in the field of government communication and boost transparency and assert the role of journalism to highlight practices or negative phenomenon.
He noted that the new draft law does not include any article about media censorship, but leaves it for public to judge what is written, and anything can be dealt with accordingly in line with the regulations in the new media draft law.
Ghobash noted that specialists, journalists association, media establishments, civil society and a number of academicians contributed to the new media draft law. References were made to the journalist laws in some Arab and foreign countries to develop the new draft law. After legal reviews from various legal and academic institutions in the UAE, the new media draft law was submitted to UAE President to endorse it.
He said that the current media law governs the issuance of media licensing in the country. On the media free zone, Ghobash said the NMC signed Memorandum of Understanding with many media free zones in line with the Cabinet decision in this respect.
About cooperation between the NMC with media in the UAE, Ghobash said "there are periodic meetings between the NMC and the Telecommunication Regulatory Authority and other competent authorities on radio broadcast and TV telecast, as well as with local dailies.
