DAMASCUS, (SANA) – President Bashar al-Assad on Sunday issued a decree on establishing the National Media Council, chaired by Dr. Taleb Qadi Amin.

Based on the provisions of Legislative Decree No. 108 for the year 2011, particularly article no. 20, the National Media Council is established with the membership of the following ladies and gentlemen:

Dr. Taleb Qadi Amin, Chairman

Fuad Abdul Majeed Ballat, Deputy Chairman.

Adel Yazji, member.

Dr. Nadia Khost, member.

Hassan Mohammad Yousef, member.

Nazem Behsas, member.

Mohammad Qijja, member.

Dr. Fuad Sharbaji, member.

Abdul Fattah Awad, member.

In a statement to SANA, Minister of Information Dr. Adnan Mahmoud said that forming the National Media Council compliments the media law which establishes the basis for a new stage based on restructuring national media both in the public and private sector, developing the performance of mass media to integrate with the comprehensive reform program.

Minister Mahmoud said that the Council has administrative and financial independence and considerable authority, pointing out that it will be a partner in reorganizing the media sector and devising media strategies.

He said that the Council's independence will allow it to play a vital role in developing the performance of mass media in terms of quality, specialization, democracy, dialogue and representing all of the Syrian society, with the media's priority being the citizens' priorities.

Mahmoud said that the challenge facing national media is reconsidering their mechanisms, tools and methods in order to become professional and active in society, stressing that there will be no limits in terms of dealing with public affairs and combating corruption.

In a similar statement, Taleb Qadi Amin said that the council will be responsible for follow up on the implementation of the media law no. 108 for 2011, pointing out that the Council is tasked with organizing the media sector, devising media policies, licensing mass media and other issues, in addition to issuing an annual report on the state of national media and performance.

He expressed hope that will Council will fulfill its role and raise the quality of Syrian mass media to the standards of advanced countries, creating the suitable environment for journalists to participate in serving their country and defending it against the media attacks, both now and in the future. 

R. Mil / Mazen / H. Sabbagh