Minister Marqos Highlights Media Law Protecting Journalists' Rights

Minister of Information, Lawyer Paul Marqos, addressed a specialized training session attended by journalists from various media outlets on international humanitarian law and the protection of journalists. He expressed his gratitude to the International Committee of the Red Cross, hoping the participants would find the training valuable, though ideally, they would never have to apply what they learn. He noted that such training sessions are always conducted as a preventive measure.

Marqos spoke to attendees, including colleagues from the National News Agency, radio, television, and several directorates close to his heart which he did not name. He discussed the media bill approved by the joint committees, describing it as a project designed to preserve journalists' rights by removing any provisions that might cause concern.

He reaffirmed the commitment to passing the retirement charter, which, after many years, has reached the general assembly of the Parliament for the first time during the current term. Marqos pledged to continue efforts to finalize and enforce it. He also mentioned that the joint committees removed all clauses related to public media to allow for careful study that protects journalists' rights without causing any distraction, while also aiming to develop public media. He urged participants to disregard concerns about this issue. Marqos added that the next step involves presenting the rights that ensure fairness to journalists to the general assembly next week, noting that this is the first time these rights have reached the assembly during this term. He reminded that in the two previous sessions, the approval was awaited but quorum was not met.