The council approval comes after the report submitted by the Secretariat of the League and after hearing from delegations participating in the session
The ministers affirmed the importance of continuing to develop media strategies to combat the rhetoric of hatred and extremism

The Council of Arab Information Ministers in its 49th session in Cairo at the Arab League headquarters has chosen Riyadh as the Capital of Arab Information 2018/2019.

The council approval comes after the report submitted by the Secretariat of the League and after hearing from delegations participating in the session. The council assured adopting Al-Quds as the permanent Capital of Arab Information in line with choosing a Capital of Arab Information each year.

The Ministerial Council called on the Arab States Broadcasting Union to cooperate and coordinate with Arab news agencies and channels to synchronize the timing of the live broadcasting of the celebration of Riyadh as the Capital of Arab Information.

Saudi Arabia was represented at the meeting by the Minister of Culture and Information Dr. Awad bin Saleh Al-Awad.

The ministers affirmed the importance of continuing to develop media strategies to combat the rhetoric of hatred and extremism and exposing the countries that support, fund and embrace terrorism. 

They pointed to the need to confront the media spreading corruption in the region through the dissemination and continuous promotion of extremist thought, and hosting the leaders of this thought under the pretext of professionalism and opening the way for all to express their opinions contrary to the most basic ethical rules.

The ministers stressed their condemnation of the actions of some media outlets, which continue the policy of undermining unity among the Arab peoples by focusing on the dissemination of topics and news aimed at destabilizing the national fabric of the Arab countries.

The ministers called for supporting all media that promote the spirit of cooperation and peaceful coexistence to confront the media that have used deviation and extremism as a method that has been reflected in their reports.

The ministers agreed on the importance of continuous meetings and permanent coordination, and building on achieved successes that led to exposing the falsity of the media of strife, extremism and terrorism. 

They also agreed on the development of joint action among the countries calling for combating terrorism owing to the focal role of the media in enlightening society and boosting positive ideas that ensure peaceful coexistence among different groups and segments of societies.