Manama: Bahrain has reiterated its support to the media and mediapersons in statements on the World Press Freedom Day.
Paying tribute to journalists, media figures and intellectuals “for their crucial role in protecting the country’s security and stability, and promoting national progress and prosperity”, King Hamad Bin Eisa Al Khalifa “affirmed unwavering respect of press and media freedom.”
“We have always affirmed that our political and democratic reform project will go ahead, and that press and media freedom is one of the basic cornerstones of that project,” King Hamad said, as quoted by Bahrain News Agency (BNA).
The king also stressed resolve to continue reforms and democratic practices unabated to promote political and media pluralism and responsible freedom, and urged commitment to professional and ethical standards, underlining the importance of heeding vital national interests, the official news agency said.
King Hamad in his statement cited constant directives to protect press and media outlets and personnel from attempts aiming to limit their freedom and undermine the exercise of their enlightenment role, in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution and the National Action Charter, BNA said.
The king also “urged cooperation in order to approve without delay a restriction-free, modern and enlightened Press and Printing Law that keeps up with the development and democratic reforms in the kingdom and enables journalists to reveal truth, fight corruption, identify irregularities and enlighten the public, it added.
All officials should respect the press and cooperate fully with journalists, media personnel and intellectuals to enable them to assume their duties easily and achieve public interests, he said.
“King Hamad reiterated commitment to the right to freedom of opinion and expression, stipulated by Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, calling on journalists to exercise such a right with responsibility and in accordance with laws, regulations and the code of professional conduct,” BNA said.
In his statement, King Hamad directed the parties concerned to cooperate with the Bahrain Journalists’ Association (BJA) to launch a “Bahraini Press Day” to be an occasion to honour the national press and pay tribute to journalists and media figures for their patriotic efforts and noble missions.
In his statement, Prime Minister Prince Khalifa Bin Salman Al Khalifa underlined the importance of mass media and the press in Bahrain as a key partner in supporting the government’s development efforts and shaping visions.
“Bahrain’s keenness to join the world every year in celebrating the World Press Freedom Day is recognition of the remarkable role played by the national press throughout Bahrain’s history in fast-tracking development,” he said, BNA reported.
“Journalists and media persons in Bahrain have a major role in enlightening the society. Their responsibilities are bigger in achieving people’s aspirations and defending their issues courageously and objectively,” he said.
Prince Khalifa underscored the influential role of journalists and media persons in shaping public awareness and bolstering good values and patriotism and reiterated his open-door policy with the press and mass media.
The prime minister called for tapping on the youth’s potentials “by encouraging and stimulating them to acquire the needed knowledge so as to groom an open-minded generation keen on maintaining bridges of communication between the community and the press.”
