NNA ndash; Lebanonrsquo;s Ministry of Information on Tuesday evening launched the activities of quot;Beirut the Capital of Arab Media 2023quot; at the Middle East Aviation Center in Beirut, under the auspices of Caretaker Prime Minister, Najib Mikati, represented by Caretaker Minister of Information, Ziad Makary.

The opening ceremony of this event was attended by Caretaker Ministers of Tourism, Walid Nassar, Public Works and Transport, Dr. Ali Hamieh, Finance Dr. Youssef Al-Khalil, Tele-Communications Eng. Johnny Corm, and National Education Abbas Al-Halabi, in addition to MPs Qabalan Qabalan, Fadi Alameh, Michel Moussa, Ibrahim Al-Mousawi, and MP Tony Franjieh.

The opening ceremony was also attended by a number of Arab and foreign ambassadors, representatives of diplomatic missions operating in Lebanon, Information Ministryrsquo;s Director General, Dr. Hassan Falha, National News Agency (NNA) Director, Ziad Harfouche, Radio Lebanon Director, Mohammed Gharib, Director of Studies, Khoder Majid, Information Ministryrsquo;s Studies#39; Department Head, Khodr Majed, in addition to scores of media and cultural figures.

In his delivered speech, the Assistant Secretary of the League of Arab States, Ambassador Ahmed Rashid Khattabi, said: ldquo;It is a great honor to attend this evening to represent the League of Arab States at the ldquo;Beirut Capital of Arab Media 2023rdquo; ceremony, under the slogan ldquo;Herersquo;s Beirutrdquo;… That picturesque cosmic middle city that carries the fragrant of history and human civilization, which has proven in all circumstances to be a symbol of pride and challenge, defying difficulties and misfortunes.rdquo;

Ambassador Khattabi also indicated: quot;I am confident that Beirut, the heart of Lebanon, will remain faithful to its ancient identity, the roots of the cedar tree, and a space for pluralism, love and harmony.quot;

Afterwards, a short movie entitled, quot;Herersquo;s Beirutquot;, prepared and directed by quot;Phenomenaquot;, was screened during the opening ceremony.

In his delivered word, Caretaker Minister Makary said: ldquo;Beirut, lsquo;the capital of Arab media for 2023,rsquo; a well-deserved title! Beirut is the capital of Arab media for all years. Here is quot;freedom of the pressquot;, Here is ldquo;Free pressrdquo;, and here is success, distinction, brilliance, openness and creativity!.rdquo;

Makary added: quot;Beirut, the capital of Arab media,quot; is not only an occasion for demonstrating our leadership, nor an occasion for demonstrating our culture only. quot;Beirut, Capital of Arab Mediaquot; is an occasion to manifest our Arabism and purify it from its impurities. Therefore, I launch an appeal to all our Arab brothers, to render this year a year of media openness between our Arab capitals, be a year in which we can demonstrate our living culture, with its motto lsquo;a culture that unites us, not ignorance that separates usrsquo;.rdquo;

The Minister concluded: quot;We want this celebration to be a window of hope, and a gateway for the return of Lebanese-Arab relations to their natural course. Here is Beirut, Here is lsquo;the mother of journalism,rsquo; lsquo;the mother of culture,rsquo; lsquo;the mother of laws,rsquo; and lsquo;the mother of legislationsrsquo;.rdquo;

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