Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the UAE and Bahrain underlined the importance of the media and think-tanks in facing interference attempts by some regional countries.
The information ministers of the Arab Anti-Terrorism Quartet met in Abu Dhabi on Monday as part of their unified counter-terrorism efforts in the region and the world.
The meeting was also attended by journalists, media workers and a number of think tanks, with the aim of “sharing expertise and available potentials in the four countries and exchanging ideas to serve the common vision in combating terrorism and terrorism financing and drying up its financial and intellectual resources.”
Participants highlighted the role of thought leaders in influencing societies and shaping the public opinion, and called for the need to promote cooperation between intellectuals, the media and research institutions to achieve the desired goals and to immunize societies against the spread of extremist ideologies, especially among the younger generations.
The meeting was held in the presence of Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Information, Dr. Awad bin Saleh Al Awad; Bahraini Minister for Media Affairs Ali bin Mohammed Al Rumeihi, President of the Egyptian Higher Council for Media Regulation Makram Mohammed Ahmed, and Dr. Sultan Al Jaber, Minister of State and Chairman of UAE’s National Media Council.
Participants also noted that extremism and terrorism were based on intellectual and financial roots.
“Without working to cut these two roots, the current counterterrorism mechanisms will not lead to the ultimate elimination of this scourge that is now ravaging many societies in the region,” they said.
They also reviewed the means to promote coordination between the media in the four countries and unifying the media vision in dealing with the developments in the region, particularly the fight against terrorism.
“We should also focus on social media platforms, the most influential means of public opinion in the Arab communities,” the ministers said during the meeting.
