The Egyptian Center For Strategic Studies (ECSS) and the El Sadat Association for Social Development & Welfare — in cooperation with the Swiss Embassy — held an extensive workshop with foreign correspondents in Egypt.
The workshop was attended by Egyptian parliamentarians, academics, and journalists.
It explored how to support foreign media correspondents through open and frank dialogue on the challenges facing them, whether through the administrative aspects concerning permits or in terms of communicating with news and information sources.
The workshop was opened by Mohamed Ibrahim, Deputy Director of the Center, Mohamed Anwar El Sadat, President of the Sadat Association, Elizabeth Gillen, Deputy Head of Mission at the Swiss Embassy, and its Media Manager of the Shahira Amin.
During his speech, Ibrahim stressed that the event primarily aims to build bridges with representatives of foreign media in Egypt and listen to their problems to provide recommendations to the relevant authorities to remove these obstacles.
"This is a move by the Egyptian state to achieve rapprochement with the foreign press after decades of tension," he noted.
Mohamed Anwar El Sadat also said that the meeting represents a qualitative shift in the dialogue with foreign correspondents in Egypt and serves the state's orientations in building a positive relationship with the outside world.
Among the participants at the main session were Diaa Rashwan, Chairman of the State Information Service (SIS), Khaled El Balshy, Head of the Journalists Syndicate, and Ezzat Ibrahim, Editor-in-Chief of Al-Ahram Weekly and the English portal, Ahram Online.
Rashwan stressed that the SIS provides all possible facilities to foreign journalists and does not hesitate to provide them with information or responses from senior officials.
He added that all complaints presented by correspondents in this meeting will be considered.
El-Balshy stressed the importance of giving full freedom for correspondents to perform their work in the country and noted that all local and foreign journalists have equal rights and duties in professional performance.
Ibrahim shed light on the development of the Egyptian press in foreign languages in Egypt and noted that it plays an important role in the work of correspondents and diplomatic missions and is a basic link in improving Egypt's image abroad in light of practices that adhere to professional standards.
A lengthy discussion was also held between the correspondents and speakers about all aspects of their work and the Freedom of Information Law that is set to be presented to the parliament soon.
They also underlined some of the administrative procedures that hinder the work of the foreign press and send an incorrect image of the situation in the country.
At the end of the workshop, the attendees agreed on the importance of continuing this strategic dialogue as it represents a real beginning in effective communication with representatives of foreign media in Egypt.
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