At the opening session, Dr. Al-Awwad delivered a speech in which he said "The role of the Arab media in confronting terrorism is one of the most important issues before the 48th Ordinary Session of Arab Ministers of Information". Dr. Al-Awwad pointed out that there is a pivotal role for the Arab media in confronting and combating terrorism in addition to protecting societies and peoples from falling into its trap. "The past year has witnessed many terrorist attacks that have claimed the lives of hundreds of innocent victims in the Arab world and other countries. Our Arab media today has a great responsibility to save lives and preserve properties through the implementation of awareness and educational programs to eliminate this dangerous and destructive phenomenon," Dr. Al-Awwad said. Dr. Al-Awwad stressed that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has spared no effort in tackling the phenomenon of terrorism and cooperating with international and regional bodies to prevent the escalation of terrorism. "Emanating from its keenness to support all efforts to preserve lives, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia hosted the International Counter-Terrorism Conference in 2005 and established the United Nations Counter-Terrorism Center in 2011 and the Islamic Military Alliance to Fight Terrorism in the era of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman Abdulaziz Al Saud. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia also opened this year the Global Center for Combating Extremist Ideology (GCCEI)," he said. --More 21:12 LOCAL TIME 18:12 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/w445056