Minister of Information Discusses Work Program After Oath

On Wednesday, Minister of Information Salem Thabet Al-Awlaqi took the constitutional oath before the Chairman of the Presidential Leadership Council, Rashad Al-Alimi, alongside the Minister of Civil Service and Insurance, Akram Al-Amiri, and the Minister of Local Administration, Ahmed Saleh Al-Awlaqi.

Minister Salem Al-Awlaqi said: "After taking the constitutional oath as Minister of Information, I begin to assume this national responsibility, feeling the weight of the trust placed upon us. I am aware of the challenges facing the media sector in this sensitive and exceptional phase, and the importance of the role played by official media institutions, with their professional cadres and accumulated experience, which form a fundamental pillar for any development and reform process."

Al-Awlaqi pointed out that his priority in the next phase will be to continue modernizing official media institutions, enhancing their performance, and developing their tools to keep pace with the rapid transformations in the media industry. He also emphasized investing in building and qualifying their cadres, improving the work environment through effective partnership with their leaders and members, benefiting from their expertise and experiences, and establishing an institutional work approach based on efficiency, development, and continuity.

He added: "We will also place the conditions of journalists, media professionals, and workers in the media sector at the forefront of our concerns, working to improve their professional and living conditions, protect their rights, enhance press and media freedoms, and provide guarantees that ensure journalists can practice their profession freely and responsibly, and that citizens have the right to access information and knowledge."

He continued: "We will work to expand bridges of communication and cooperation with private, community, and independent media, based on a belief in the importance of media pluralism, respect for the independence and professional role of press and media institutions, and building a responsible partnership with various journalistic components and entities. This will contribute to developing the media environment, consolidating freedom of opinion and expression, and promoting the values of professionalism, credibility, objectivity, and responsibility."

The Minister of Information noted that the current stage requires unifying the media discourse and efforts, and harnessing all capabilities and energies to expose the Houthis' violations, reveal their practices, and counter their misleading rhetoric. It also requires strengthening national awareness, away from the internal bickering and conflicts that drain efforts, waste energy, and divert attention from the battle with the Houthis.

He said: "We look forward to working in a team spirit with the leaders and cadres of the Ministry of Information and various media institutions, in cooperation with journalists and media professionals at home and abroad, to build a national, professional, and responsible media that possesses modern tools, expresses citizens' issues and aspirations, defends the truth, and enhances trust in state institutions."