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Media buzz at Inter-Con

MUSCAT — As Oman’s leadership, the government and people are united in seeking to ensure the success of the 29th AGCC Summit here, over 300 international journalists from all over the world have arrived in Muscat to cover the event.

Media personnel are here from countries such as the United States, the United Kingdom, China, France, Japan, India, Pakistan, Arab and the AGCC countries to cover the ongoing event.

Previous summits of the AGCC leaders, hosted by the Sultanate in 1985, 1989, 1995 and 2001, have been milestones in the development of closer relations between the Gulf States, and this year has been special with journalists from almost all the countries showing an interest in covering the events in Oman.

Radio, print, television and web journalists are here in droves. Apart from columnists and experts, many media honchos and editors of media houses in the AGCC countries are here to cover the event.

The Ministry of Information has personally invited over 50 journalists from different parts of the world. “Journalists have arrived from all over the world to cover this prestigious event. The media centre that we have set up at Hotel Intercontinental is rendering all possible services to journalists to cover the summit without any hassle. It has also been provided with all modern communications equipment to make life easy for journalists whether they are from print, radio or TV channels. We have left no stone unturned to see that journalists feel comfortable,” said Ali bin Mohammed Zaabanoot, director-general, Ministry of Information.

He added: “I believe the world media covering the event are happy with the arrangements made for them as we have not received any serious complaint so far.”

Journalist Yorishisa Ota of The Nikkei, in Japan, agrees with him as he expresses happiness over the way things have been going for him.

“People are extremely hospitable and have been very accommodating,” he says.

“Actually I didn’t have a pass to go to Al Bustan Palace to cover the opening ceremony but on repeated requests the Ministry of Information officials were kind enough to provide me one. That was a nice gesture,” Yorishisa Ota smiles.

According to Yorishisa Ota the fact that he is here proves that Japan and the AGCC countries share strong ties.

“The AGCC countries enjoy a strong economic relationship with Japan. I believe there is still room for development. By exploring new products, the economic exchange between these countries can be further enhanced. I hope both Japanese and the AGCC people continue to exercise their imagination and creativity to explore all potential opportunities. I believe covering these events would somehow contribute to furthering the ties,” he says.

This is Yorishisa Ota’s second visit to Oman and he believes Oman should fully tap its tourism potential. “After seeing Oman I think it should invest heavily in tourism,” he says.

As a journalist he is curious as to what crucial decisions would be taken during the course of the event.

Yasser, reporting for Xinhua News Agency in China, is also happy with the arrangements. “As a journalist, the first day of reporting for the pre-summit meeting was very successful. I am sure the following two days too would be as good,” he says.

A journalist reporting for an international news agency too said the opportunity of reporting from Muscat has been a “fine” experience.

“I hope the two-day summit of the Arab Gulf Cooperation Council (AGCC) will be able to fulfil the aspirations of the Gulf citizens. I hope they are able to take a unified stance to deal with political and economic challenges. As a media personnel looking for some exciting stories to file, I hope the AGCC leaders take important decisions,” said a journalist from Lebanon. “Though we know the AGCC leaders are expected to focus on efforts for sustainable development and prosperity and address the consequences of the global financial crisis, as well as talk about boosting cooperation in military, security and economic domains, I am sure they will adopt a unified position on the Gaza issue. What their stand will be is what we journalist are looking forward to,” he said.