Damascus, Dec. 14, (SANA) Information Minister Hamza al-Mustafa said Sunday that academic and media freedom are essential pillars for rebuilding the country, as a two-day “One Year Since Liberation: Prospects and Challenges” conference concluded in Damascus.
Al-Mustafa said researchers play a critical role in shaping political, media and academic development, noting that their analytical depth allows them to provide practical recommendations beyond the daily focus of politicians and journalists.
Speaking at the closing session of the conference, al-Mustafa said the gathering marked a new phase that allows Syrian researchers, as well as scholars from abroad, to discuss Syrian issues inside the country with a broad margin of freedom.
He said the conference reflected the growing overlap between media, politics and academic work, as traditional boundaries between disciplines continue to recede.
The conference brought together researchers from multiple fields and representatives from several ministries. Its sessions focused on political transition toward a new Syria, economic recovery, security sector and military reform, identity and society, and preserving collective memory.
A/Dh
