DR. ABDULLAH ALJASSER, THE UNDERSECRETARY OF THE MINISTRY OF CULTURE AND INFORMATION FOR INFORMATION AFFAIRS AND LEADER OF THE KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA'S DELEGATION TO THE ISLAMIC INFORMATION SENIOR OFFICIALS MEETING, PREPARING FOR THE OIC 7TH ISLAMIC INFORMATION MINISTERS CONFERENCE, SAID THE KINGDOM HAS PROPOSED, IN A PAPER TO THE MEETING, A PACKAGE OF INFORMATION PROJECTS WORTH U.S. DOLLARS 25 MILLION OVER FIVE YEARS. HIGHLIGHTING THE OUTCOME OF THE MEETING, DR. ALJASSER SAID THE TWO-DAY MINISTERS CONFERENCE SCHEDULED FOR JEDDAH ON WEDNESDAY WILL TACKLE BUDGETING THOSE PROJECTS, NOTING THAT THE KINGDOM IS READY TO PAY ITS SHARE ONCE OTHERS ARE PREPARED TO PAY. HE SAID THE ONLY OBSTACLE FACING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF ISLAMIC MEDIA PROJECTS IS FINANCE, NOTING THAT ALL PROPOSALS SUBMITTED BY THE KINGDOM'S DELEGATION WERE PASSED BY THE MEETING. HE NOTED THAT THE KINGDOM UNDERSCORED THE IMPORTANCE OF COOPERATION WITH THE PRIVATE SECTOR, CONFIRMING THAT SOME ISLAMIC BUSINESSMEN, PARTICULARLY THOSE RUNNING BUSINESSES IN THE WEST, ARE PREPARED TO ENTER INTO MEDIA PROJECTS FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE ISLAMIC FAITH AND PEOPLE. HE HIGHLIGHTED THE RECOMMENDATIONS ON WAYS OF DEVELOPING THE ISLAMIC NEWS AGENCY AND ISLAMIC BROADCASTING ORGANIZATION. A FOLLOW-UP COMMITTEE TO CHECK WHY SOME DECISIONS TAKEN IN THE PAST WERE NOT IMPLEMENTED WILL BE FORMED, HE WAS QUOTED AS SAYING. IN RESPONSE TO A QUESTION, ALJASSER SAID THE POSSIBILITY OF FORMING A MINISTERIAL COMMITTEE TO BE IN CHARGE OF FINANCIAL RESOURCES WILL BE TACKLED BY THE MINISTERS. HE SUGGESTED THE IMPORTANCE OF CONTRIBUTION OF THE PRIVATE SECTOR TO THE ISSUE OF REFLECTING A CORRECT PROFILE OF ISLAM AND MUSLIMS OUTSIDE. THE RECOMMENDATIONS INCLUDED THE SET UP OF A MONITOR CENTER TO VERIFY WHAT IS COMING OUT OF FOREIGN MEDIA ON ISLAM AND MUSLIMS, PARTICULARLY IF IT IS NEGATIVE, ALJASSER CONCLUDED.
