The Council of Arab Information Ministers has chosen Riyadh as the Capital of Arab Information for 2018-2019, during its 49th session in Cairo at the Arab League headquarters on Wednesday. The Council stressed “the adoption of Jerusalem as the permanent capital of the Arab media”, in parallel with the selection of an Arab capital annually, and requested the Arab States Broadcasting Union to cooperate and coordinate with the Arab news agencies and satellite channels to synchronize the timing of live broadcasting of the celebration of Riyadh as the capital of the Arab media. Arab League Secretary General Ahmed Aboul Gheit underlined the need for the Arab media to show the moderate face of the Arab civilization and to dissociate itself from the spread of sectarianism and hatred. Aboul Gheit said in a speech delivered on his behalf by Assistant Secretary General, Ambassador Haifa Abu Ghazaleh, that this session is taking place in light of the “great challenges facing the Arab region, notably political unrest, foreign intervention and economic difficulties.” “We want a media that conveys reality without bias,” Aboul Gheit said, highlighting the importance of the plan on Jerusalem, which was submitted to the Council and aims at countering the unilateral US decision to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of the occupying state. “The Palestinian issue remains the central issue of all Arabs. The best proof is that the recent Arab summit in Dhahran in Saudi Arabia bore the name of the Jerusalem Summit,” he stated. Saudi Minister of Culture and Information Dr. Awad Al-Awad called on the international community to take a firm and united stance towards Iran and its hostile actions that destabilize the region. He also emphasized “Saudi Arabia’s continued work with its partners in the United States and the international community to achieve the goals announced by US President Donald Trump and the need to address the threat posed by Iran’s policies to international peace and security with a comprehensive perspective, not only with regards to its nuclear program but also to all its aggressive activities.” Awad stressed that the Palestinian issue will remain on top of Arab priorities until “the brotherly Palestinian people get all their legitimate rights, mainly the establishment of an independent Palestinian State with East Jerusalem as its capital.”