ASPU conf. reflects Kuwait's pioneering media role - Official

KUWAIT, Dec 13 (KUNA) -- Unmistakably, the fact that the recent conference of the Arab States Broadcasting Union (ASPU) was held in Kuwait reflects this Gulf country's pioneering media role, a senior official said here on Saturday.
It also shows that Kuwait is capable of hosting and organizing various successful regional and international conferences and gatherings, Assistant Undersecretary of the Information Ministry for Media Planning and Knowledge Development Mohammad Al-Awwash told KUNA.
The 34th general assembly of the Arab States Broadcasting Union (ASPU) kicked off here on Wednesday and concluded its activities on Friday.
Al-Awwash was elected as president of the union while Tunisian Mustapha Ballatif was handpicked as First Deputy President of the union, and Jordanian Ramadan Rawashda as Second Deputy. Sudanese Abdulraheem Yunus was chosen as the union's Director General.
The holding of the ASPU under the aegis of His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah is an unequivocal sign of Kuwait' unshakable belief in the significance of cementing and beefing up cooperation among Arab countries on various levels, Al-Awwash said.
It also reflects the important role of mass media in the dissemination of the genuine concept of development, culture, advancement and stability, he said, boasting that Kuwait is a co-founder of the ASPU.
He added that the ASPU General Assembly members had voiced pride at the UN honoring of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah as a "Humanitarian Leader" in recognition of his humanitarian initiatives.
Al-Awwash highly commended the ASPU as a common Arab body that was established 60 years ago to serve certain goals and purposes and to fulfill the expectations and hopes of the Arab people for more fraternity and amity.
On recent ASPU general assembly meetings, he said the participants discussed ways to enhance the general administration of social media and communication, so that they can keep up with the latest methods in media and technology.
The meeting also approved a media strategy to combat radicalism, including a number of training courses in media fields to bolster human resources and members of the union, he pointed out.
Asked about this media strategy to fight the growing phenomena of terrorism and extremism, the Kuwaiti official and ASPU chairman said the body said this strategy was adopted by Arab information ministers and would be referred to the ASPU Secretariat for further deliberations and final approval next January as a maximum date. (end) yms.abd.mt