DAMASCUS, (SANA)- The Syrian journalists have shouldered their responsibilities in defending Syria with the written word and loud voice to reveal the facts and expose the media misleading and fabrications targeting their country, said a statement of the Syrian Journalists' Union on the occasion of the Arab Journalism's Day.

The statement also highlighted the Syrian journalists' role in reporting the real image of the comprehensive reform process led by President Bashar al-Assad, particularly with regard to the new constitution and the media and parties laws.

The Union said Syria's serious and speedy steps of implementing the reforms and changes are met with escalatory measures by the US and the West whether in terms of supporting the terrorists or imposing political and economic sanctions against the country.

"This goes along with targeting the livelihood and national sovereignty of the Syrian people by the western and some Arab countries through encouraging the armed terrorist groups to escalate killing and violence against citizens, law enforcement and army forces and public and private facilities," the Union added.

It denounced the Imperialist powers' use of media as a means of pressuring Syria and distorting its real image and that of its people and army as "a violation of the principles, ethics and credibility of journalistic work", stressing that this hostile media campaign is on its way to failure thanks to the Syrian people's awareness and steadfastness.

The Union called upon the journalists in Syria to continue struggle in defense of the free and honest word and on the Arab journalists to deal with the current events in Syria with credibility and professionality.

H. Said