RIYADH -- Saudi Arabia will make all possible efforts to improve its international image with the support of friendly countries as well as foreign organizations and institutions, Higher Education Minister Dr. Khaled Al-Anqari said here yesterday.
Opening the second annual communication forum titled "The image of Saudi Arabia in the world", organized by the Saudi Association for Media & Communication (SAMC), Anqari said the anti-Saudi media campaigns were targeting the Kingdom's institutions and values.
"Since the Sept. 11 events, Saudi Arabia has been facing strident media campaigns that vied with one another to tarnish the Kingdom's international image and tried to discredit its values and institutions," the minister said in his keynote address.
More than 100 prominent personalities from within and outside Saudi Arabia are taking part in the four-day forum. They include delegates from the United States, Britain, France, Germany, Russia, China, Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand, India and Pakistan in addition to their counterparts from Arab and Gulf states.
"This forum seeks to study the situation of the Kingdom's image in the world and work out strategies to project its true image at political, media, cultural and social levels inside and outside the country," the minister said.
He said the Saudi leadership had always tried to preserve the Kingdom's image. "This state gives Islamic values utmost consideration and strives for improving the image of its institutions," he added.
"We will work with our friends in the world to highlight the true picture of Saudi Arabia, the qibla of Islam and Muslims and the heart of the Arab world," he said and called upon Saudi youth to keep away from activities that would tarnish the image of Islam and their country.
Anqari said the Higher Education Ministry was making contacts with educational agencies and institutions in other countries to correct the distorted picture of Saudi Arabia. "These efforts have started yielding fruit and we are continuing these efforts," he added.
He said the ministry would transfer the researches and recommendations of the forum to relevant organizations in the West after translating them. He emphasized the role of Saudi men and women in presenting the true picture of their country to the outside world.
Dr. Ali ibn Shuwail Al-Qarni, chairman of SAMC, said the forum would have 12 sessions, three discussion sessions and a final open dialogue, saying that they would deal with all issues and topics to promote the Kingdom's global reputation.
He stressed the importance of improving the Kingdom's image abroad as it plays an essential role in shaping and directing public opinion. "The recent international events have made it all the more important to study the conceptual image held by the countries around the world about the Kingdom and the factors contributing to its development," he said. He said SAMC's second forum was dedicated to investigating the conceptual image of the Kingdom around the world.
"It is hoped that such experiences will benefit us in recommending information programs to improve the image of the Kingdom around the world," he said.
Al-Qarni said the forum would review the current endeavors and programs to improve the Kingdom's image and suggest new methods and programs to do the work more effectively. "We have already sent messages on the forum to more than 10 million e-mail addresses in the USA, Canada, Europe and other countries," he pointed out.
The forum's programs will be transmitted around the world through the Internet. People will be able to ask questions directly to the chairman of each session.
Al-Qarni commended the efforts of Saudi Aramco, Saudi Arabian Airlines and the Arab Public Relations and Research Foundation in improving the Kingdom's image abroad. He urged businessmen to play a major role in this respect. "If we were better organized we could have done better in this area," the chairman said.
In his address, Dr. Keith Rowe of New Zealand, who spoke on behalf of foreign delegates, said: "We will contribute whatever wisdom and experience we have and look forward to a shared exploration of the main theme." He said about 50 foreign participants came from 17 countries.
"The decision to invite participants from beyond Saudi Arabia and the Arab world is an acknowledgement that we are citizens in a single inter-connected world, that though we differ in background, culture, experience and faith, we need and depend upon each other," he said.
"As overseas participants we look forward to the conference, the papers, the discussion, but most importantly meeting with others and sharing experiences and viewpoints. We will speak with honesty but always with care and compassion and with hope for the future of our divided world," he said.
Muhammad Al-Bishi & Mishaal Al-Humaidan
© Arab News 2004
