MEDIA
Islamic Broadcasting Union (IBU) New Statutes and Organizational Structure adopted
OIC SG Ihsanoglu (C-L) and Saudi Minister of Information and Culture Khoja (C-R) at the Executive Council of IBU meeting in Jeddah on June 19, 2011.
Jeddah, Saudi Arabia - The Executive Council of the Islamic Broadcasting Union (IBU) held an extraordinary session at the premises of the General Secretariat of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in Jeddah on 19 June 2011 and adopted the new ‘Statutes and Organizational Structure of the Union’. The meeting, which was chaired by Dr. Abdul Aziz Mohieddine Khojah, Minister of Culture and Information of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Chairman of IBU Executive Council, also discussed the procedure of appointing a new Director General for the Union. The OIC Secretary General Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu in his opening speech at the meeting, noted that mass media is critical and has essential role in contemporary society. He underlined that the media have positive and negative effects in creating tension in the global climate and in increasing conflicts, particularly with regard to distortion and defamation of religions and religious symbols. Changes in the region have demonstrated that media are regarded as essential part of the system of fundamental freedoms and for resisting corruption. Requirements of reform in the OIC necessitate providing IBU with the essential capabilities and powers to start functioning without obstacles to develop cooperation between radio and television stations in the Muslim world, and exchange of radio and television programs that serve the common objectives of OIC since IBU, which caters for the development of joint Islamic media action, is an institution for the Member States, he added. The Chairman of IBU Executive Council Dr. Abdul Aziz Mohieddine Khojah welcomed the delegations of the OIC member countries who participated in the meeting and conveyed the greetings of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz, and of the Crown Prince and the Second Deputy Premier Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz. He stressed on the unique importance of the
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the OIC Journal www.oic-oci.org June - August 2011
meeting and emphasized the important role of media and information in the new era especially with the technological advancements taking place at a rapid pace, which undoubtedly have impact on the political and economic happenings in the Middle East and the Muslim world in general. He underlined the dire need for IBU and the International Islamic News Agency (IINA) to adopt new technologies and advancements in the field of information, especially in light of the new vision of the Union. The Chairman noted that Islamic institutions should do away with old-fashioned roles, bureaucracy and routine works. He also underlined that IBU and IINA, being the OIC media arm, shoulder big responsibilities, therefore, both institutions should either succeed or fail, for media in the contemporary era have central role in political, social and economical spheres. He highlighted the significance of the meeting and stated that it is up to the Member States to succeed or fail in formulating a clear vision for the OIC media arm. The Chairman thanked the outgoing IBU Director General Zainal Abidin Iberahim for his hard work and dedication during his tenure who had to resign his post due to a personal matter. In addition to the adoption of IBU’s new Statutes and Organizational Structure, the meeting discussed the procedure of appointing a new Director General for IBU. The delegates reviewed the curriculum vitas of eight nominated applicants and agreed on the principle of choosing a candidate for the post of Director General from among three nominees from Senegal, Pakistan and Mauritania. The participants authorized IBU Chairman to interview the three candidates in order to select one of them for the post of IBU Director General. Later in August the candidate from Mauritania, Salem weld Buka, was selected as the new Director General of IBU. Buka is the Director General of Mauritania Radio Broadcast.