MNA chief calls for forming Iran-Bahrain journalists association

MANAMA, Dec.11 (MNA) -- Parviz Esmaeili, the managing director of the Mehr News Agency and Tehran Times daily, called here on Friday for establishing a friendship association between Iranian and Bahrainis journalists.

Speaking with editor of Bahrain's leading daily Al-Ayam, Isa Al-Shayji, Esmaeili insisted on the need to expand ties among neighboring and Islamic states and called on Iranian and Bahraini officials to spare no efforts to strengthen ties.

Esmaeili emphasized the need for media cooperation between Iran and Bahrain. He called for an exchange of news between the Tehran Times and the Al-Ayam newspapers.

He said just relying on the Western media outlets will mislead the public over realities in neighboring states.

The Al-Ayam editor, who is also the director of the Bahrain Journalists Association (BJA), expressed his readiness to boost cooperation between the two neighboring countries and stressed the need for establishing a friendship association between journalists from the two countries.

Esmaeili was in Manama to attend the IISS regional security summit which will be opened on Saturday.

The conference will draw more than 300 delegates, including prime ministers, foreign and defense ministers, national security advisors and intelligence officials from 25 countries around the globe.

Iran’s Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki is a high profile guest to the meeting, who is scheduled to deliver speech to the opening ceremony of the summit.

Focusing on the security in the Persian Gulf, Iraq, and Afghanistan, the summit will run until Dec. 13.