The Ministry of Culture and Information has cleared about 73 percent of cases regarding various violations against the press, Abdulrahman Bawazir, Secretary General of Press Violations at the ministry, has said. All of these complaints ended without charging or taking action against anyone, the official said on the sidelines of a symposium organized by the Saudi Journalists Association here on Tuesday. The disposal of the complaints gives a strong signal that the press in the Kingdom enjoys complete freedom, he said. The ministry, he added, is currently studying several draft laws on publications, publishing and visual media which will ensure that the press has its say in matters considered crucial for the welfare of society. Tuesday's symposium entitled “A journalist's obligations and his rights” was addressed by Dr. Hamoud Al-Badr, member of the Shoura Council; Jamil Al-Dhyabi, Managing Editor of Al-Hayat Arabic daily, and Bawazir. Participants at the symposium discussed ways to preserve the freedom of the press without encroaching on fundamental rights which include matters of religion and national security. The participants unanimously stressed the need for developing the current publications system stressing that it should take into consideration the development being witnessed by the Kingdom in all walks of life. They also called for honing the skills of journalists to enable them to gather information from their sources. Present at the symposium were 17 police spokesmen from different parts of the Kingdom, and representatives from public relations, media and public security organizations.
