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Daouk to Monte Carlo Radio: To form cabinet soon, media freedoms safe and sound


NNA - Caretaker Minister of Information, Walid Daouk, held out hope Friday a new government would be formed in the nearest time possible, voicing confidence in centrists, on top of whom President Michel Sleiman, strongly seconded by outgoing Premier Najib Mikati.



Albeit the current gridlock in Lebanon, Daouk kept upbeat as tackling the political situation. He said that despite the quandaries, Beirut was still witnessing a special political "heat" in addition to a distinguished cultural movement. He mainly drew attention to the salient visits of top foreign officials to Lebanon.



Noting the sharp rift between linchpins March 14 and March 8 camps, the minister said that media was the mirror of ongoing events.


But he warded off fears over press freedoms in the country as they are irretrievably consecrated by the Constitution. "The freedom of expression is consecrated and sacred in Lebanon."


Daouk made these remarks during an interview on Monte Carlo Radio with journalist Gaby Lteif, whereby he dwelt on an array of most recent developments in Lebanon and the broader Arab region.
The interview also touched on the condition of media in Lebanon and featured high on the paramount role of the Lebanese Diaspora abroad.



In response to a question on the impact of political talk shows, Daouk deprecated the undesired level of some fresh TV debates, prodding media means not to host low-caliber guests because this would ignite bickering.


Accordingly, he extolled the state-owned Télé Liban as being capable of unifying the Lebanese. But he indicated that the channel required more resources and funding to assume its expected role.


"The live broadcast process is a difficult errand because the camera on the streets attracts around it impulsive people who would not mince their words," he said. He reminded of a former meeting he held with the representatives of media means in an attempt to curb any negative impact of live broadcast on civil peace and stability in Lebanon.


"Civil peace is beyond any other consideration," he corroborated.


Answering a question on the role of the Ministry of Information regarding the campaign against the President of the Republic, Daouk made it clear that the law was explicit in that respect, as it bans tampering with the presidency. "Besides, the President of the Republic has a national role which no one can touch on," he maintained.


Daouk did not fail to underline his dauntless interest in developing the state-run National News Agency, which he deemed as "the first information reference to politicians, journalists, and others."


He also pointed out at the lack of capacities of ailing Radio Lebanon, stressing the necessity to provide funds so that its frequency reaches all the Lebanese regions.


He finally explained that the NNA Australia bureau was opened to transmit the news of the Diaspora to Lebanon and vice versa.


=======================R.A.H.



تابعوا أخبار الوكالة الوطنية للاعلام عبر أثير إذاعة لبنان على الموجات 98.5 و98.1 و96.2 FM

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