Four Syrian media groups have merged in a new opposition media body, said in statement on Saturday.
The Syrian Media Council includes the "Media Union of Aleppo and its countryside, the Media Association of Eastern Ghouta, the Syrian Journalists Association (SJA), and the Syrian Journalists Club."
The statement added that it has become necessary to organize the journalists’ sector, to protect journalists, defend their rights and freedoms, provide them with support and care, in addition to working to preserve freedom of opinion and expression, and affirming the right of journalists to access information sources.
The head of the Syrian Journalists Club, the journalist Abd al-Aziz al-Azab, told Zaman al-Wasl that the Syrian Media Council is a good step for all Syrian media professionals, wishing that this council will include all Syrian press entities.
"We have sent invitations to all free media professionals to join this council, which was born as a result of long dialogues and discussions, to be a media nucleus for the future Syria," he added.
He emphasized that for the first time it was agreed that there would be no president for this council, and that its management would be through a "round table", and the decision would be by the majority, stressing that the council would not exclude any of the journalists.
He noted that contact has been made with the President of the Provisional Government, Abdurrahman Mustafa, who expressed all his readiness to secure all that is required of him, and for the interim government to remain far from interfering in the Council's work mechanism.
For his part, the general secretary of the Syrian Journalists Association, the journalist Sakher Idris, said that the council was born as a result of two years of cumulative work.
Idris stressed that the Council is for everyone and is not restricted to any party or media formation, and this is what was stated at the end of the statement.
Furthermore he said: "There are great challenges facing the council, especially that we are in a failed state and an unstable region. The most important challenges facing the work of journalists are protecting journalists, defending their rights, and providing support and care for them."
The statement of the "Syrian Media Council" stated: "The organizations that signed this statement will continue with all the links, unions, bodies and networks to work to contribute to the development of its structure and increase its effectiveness to serve the Syrian media."
Zaman Al Wasl
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