Arab Media Forum on combating terrorism starts in Khartoum

A forum on the role of media in fighting terrorism started here Thursday.

The two-day Arab Media Forum on Terrorism was jointly organized by Sudan's Information Ministry and the Arab League (AL).

Sudanese First Vice-President Bakri Hassan Saleh, AL Deputy Secretary General Ahmed Bin Hali, and representatives of a number of Arab information ministries and Arab media outlets attended the opening of the forum, under the theme "Role of Arab Media in Combating Terrorism."

"Terrorism is an international phenomenon necessitating coordination among all countries," Saleh said. "Terrorism targets all entities and therefore, a selective method cannot be used to face it, whereas a comprehensive phenomenon should be addressed comprehensively."

He reiterated Sudan's commitment to confronting the terrorism phenomenon.

"Sudan is being exposed to unfair accusations and attempts to accuse it of terrorism, but this does not prevent our efforts in the field of combating terrorism," he said. "This forum is an affirmation of Sudan's role in fighting terrorism."

AL Deputy Secretary General Ahmed Bin Hali, for his part, said his organization "is exerting all efforts to update and develop the Arab agreements and strategies relating to combating terrorism."

"This forum avails the opportunity to reach decisions and recommendations on the required arrangements to face terrorism and extremism. It also avails the opportunity to reach consensus on a joint media plan based on sincere and honest reviewing of terrorism issues without being misled by claims of terrorist organizations," he added.

He added that the forum would also work on practical means to implement the recommendations to uproot terrorism, which threatens the national state and the Arab social fabric, cripples the pace of development and confiscates the future of our youths.

A Khartoum Declaration is expected to be issued on Friday at the conclusion of the forum. Endit