Gulf states plan challenge to 'fierce campaign' by western media
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SPECIAL TO WORLD TRIBUNE.COM
Friday, October 26, 2001
ABU DHABI Ñ The Gulf Cooperation Council is studying a proposal to
establish an English-language channel to counter efforts to blacken the
image of the Arabs in the West.
The proposal was submitted to GCC information ministers during their
summit in Manama on Wednesday. The proposal would establish a satellite
channel in English that would seek to battle Arab stereotypes in the West in
the wake of the Sept. 11 suicide attacks on New York and Washington.
GCC secretary-general Jamil Hugaylan told GCC information ministers that
so far the Arab media are meant to serve solely Arab audiences. Hugaylan
said the Arab media must be also directed to the West.
The GCC meeting discussed the role of the media in battling terrorism
and related issues. Bahraini Information Minister Nabil Al Humar call on
Arab and Islamic media to cooperate. The cooperation, Al Humar said, would
be come under the responsibility of the Arab League and Organization of the
Islamic Conference.
Saudi Arabia is regarded as the key to the GCC media project. Saudi
Crown Prince Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz, calling on the Arab media to respond,
has deplored what he termed a Western media campaign launched against the
kingdom and Islam. At least eight of the 19 Islamic suicide attackers in the
United States have been identified as Saudi nationals.
"The fierce campaign against Saudi Arabia by the Western media is a
result of a hidden hatred against Islamic doctrine and the kingdom's
commitment to it," Abdullah said. "Preserving religion and the nation is an
issue on which there can be no haggling."
In Manama, GCC justice ministers ended their meeting with a statement
that condemned terrorism and Israel.
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