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Gulf states meet on media strategy to support war on terrorism

SPECIAL TO WORLD TRIBUNE.COM
Wednesday, October 24, 2001

ABU DHABI Ñ Gulf Arab countries are recruiting the media in the U.S.-led war against terrorism.

The Gulf Cooperation Council has decided to mobilize the state-run and private media in the Persian Gulf region to help counter-terrorist efforts. The GCC is composed of Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

Gulf defense sources said at least three of these countries ÑKuwait, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates Ñ were alleged by U.S. intelligence officials as serving as conduits for funding for Saudi fugitive Osama Bin Laden.

On Wednesday, GCC information ministers meet in Manama to discuss the role of the media in combating terrorism and the need to confront international terrorism. The ministers will also seek to confront negative stereotypes of Muslims in the wake of the Sept. 11 suicide attacks on New York and Washington.

GCC secretary-general Jamil Al Hajilan said Gulf Arab countries will draft a joint media strategy. This will include the resumption of satellite transmission to North America to explain the Muslim positions. Another proposal to be discussed would be to expand the coverage of GCC state-owned news agencies.

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