The UAE yesterday called for the implementation of UN General Assembly resolutions, particularly those pertaining to UN media programmes which call for greater enlightenment of the international community on the Palestinian question and the situation in the Middle East.

In a statement before a special General Assembly session on media, Saeed bin Hamad Al Tanaiji, member of the UAE delegation to the UN, said that the implementation of relevant General Assembly resolutions would highlight the suffering of the Palestinian people who are languishing under appalling conditions of Israeli occupation.

"The implementation of these resolutions would also help highlight the right of the Palestinian people for self-determination and ultimate establishment of their independent state with Jerusalem as its capital," he said.

Al Tanaiji stressed the need for an active UN media on the Middle East which, he said, would monitor and expose human rights violations on the ground.

"The UAE deplores the sluggishness of the media division at the UN to organise media exhibitions or launch radio programmes to highlight the Palestinian problem," he said.

Al Tanaiji also lamented the failure of Palestinian media delegation to show up, due to impediments caused by Israeli occupation, at annual journalists training course, organised by the UN media division.

On the UAE media, Al Tanaiji outlined the importance attached by the UAE to the development of the IT and media industry. He said the UAE had set up eight satellite television channels which telecast their local and international programmes in more than one language.

The government has also extended it and modern communication facilities to all government institutions and schools so that every citizen has access to the latest technology and communication facilities, he said.

These efforts, added Al Tanaiji, have run concurrently with the launch of huge media projects such as the Dubai Media City and Dubai Internet City.

Furthermore, the UAE has regularly hosted regional and international IT conferences and exhibitions in a bid to reinforce the strength of the IT sector.

All these endeavours have been made by the UAE in line with its principle of free expression, which must be consistent with the tenets of Islam as well as with the social values of the UAE society.