OANA holds board meeting in Beirut...

The 42nd meeting of the Executive Board of the Organization of Asia-Pacific News Agencies (OANA) commenced in Beirut this morning. 
The one-day meeting at Hilton Habtoor Grand Hotel is hosted by Lebanon's National News Agency (NNA), under the patronage of Lebanon's Minister of Information, Melhem Riachy, and presence of OANA President, Mr. Aslan Aslanov. 

Datuk Zakaria with Riachy

The participating news agencies in OANA's Executive Board meeting are: Azerbaijan News Agency (AzerTaC), Turkish News Agency (ANADOLU), Malaysian National News Agency (BERNAMA), Bahrain News Agency (BNA), Iranian News Agency (IRNA), Japanese News Agency (KYODO), Mehr News Agency ( MNA ) of Iran, Mongolia News Agency (MONTSAME), Lebanon's National News Agency (NNA), Russian News Agency (TASS), South Korean News Agency (YONHAP) and China's News Agency (XINHUA).
Bernama is represented by Editor-in-Chief Datuk Zakaria Abdul Wahab.  

In his speech,  Riachy said Lebanon's state-run National News Agency needs to delve into issues "beyond the activities of politicians."

"It [national news agencies] should delve into social and economic issues," he said, referring to Lebanon's NNA.
"It needs to cover different cultural issues to bring people together."

The information minister also said that it is important to "protect freedom" and "eliminate fear from authorities," especially when it comes to the media, adding that it combats corruption and ultimately terrorism.

Features Editor Mohd Nasir Yusof
with Riachy

Riachy hailed Lebanon's recent political developments, most notably the election of President Michel Aoun in October 2016.

"Lebanon's election of a president has [allowed for] the work of Lebanese institutions to resume," he said.
NNA Director Laure Saab also greeted the visiting delegations present at the summit.

"Lebanon welcomes you on its 10,452 square kilometer land, where people of 18 different sects co-exist, hosting over a million Syrian and Iraqi refugees fleeing from violence and terrorism, as well as Palestinian refugees," Saab said.
"The role of [news] agencies is to counter the terrorism taking place worldwide which destroys our culture, heritage, and diversity."

She added that the meeting coincides with World Press Freedom Day, declared by UNESCO, and reminded the attendees of Lebanon's "belief in freedom of expression."

OANA was formed in 1961 with the backing of UNESCO and consists of 44 news agencies from 35 countries.

NNA was voted into the OANA Executive Council in November 2016 during OANA's General Assembly last November in Baku, Azerbaijan.