Beirut: Secretary-General of the Arab Media Forum, Counselor Madi Abdullah Al-Khamis, delivered a poetic and inspiring address at the opening of the Forum's 21st session in Beirut, held under the patronage of President Joseph Aoun, in the presence of Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit, ministers, ambassadors, and senior media figures from across the Arab world.
According to National News Agency - Lebanon, Al-Khamis spoke under the theme 'Media and Development: Partners of the Present and Allies of the Future.' He described the Forum's evolution over the past two decades-from a 'daring idea veiled in obstacles' to a 'living, rooted reality' that restores to Arab media its essential role in shaping awareness and protecting truth. He emphasized that the Arab media must move beyond rhetoric and become an active partner in building development rather than just a transmitter of news.
Al-Khamis highlighted the transformative power of media, referring to it as 'a soft power, a silent army, a weapon invisible to the naked eye, yet one that enters minds and shapes collective conscience.' He noted that in today's world, media is not only the bearer of news but also the maker of opinion, the builder of awareness, and the architect of the nation's collective sentiment.
Expressing gratitude to Lebanon and its leadership, he praised President Joseph Aoun for his 'authentic presence and deep faith in the role of media,' describing the President's patronage as proof that 'the free word is the weapon and living conscience of the nation.' He also extended appreciation to Mr. Ahmed Aboul Gheit, Secretary-General of the League of Arab States, for his ongoing support of the Forum and its initiatives, and to Minister of Information Dr. Paul Morcos for facilitating the organization of the event.
Al-Khamis also thanked sponsors, partners, and Lebanese media institutions, which he described as 'a unique school and stage from which Arab journalists have long drawn inspiration.'
Concluding his address with an ode to Beirut, he stated that Lebanon, the land of cedars, poetry, and music, will remain the nurturing platform of Arab media, a beacon of the free word. He proclaimed that the word is life, media is a message, and truth cannot be veiled by deceit nor extinguished by falsehood.
The two-day Forum, hosted in Beirut on October 29-30, gathers leading media professionals, policymakers, and thinkers from across the Arab world to discuss the intersection of media and development and to reaffirm Beirut's role as a capital of dialogue, freedom, and the Arab word.