The speakers at this Maghrebi conference, organized by the Moroccan Federation of Newspaper Editors (FMEJ) under the theme “The media and points of convergence between the Maghrebi countries”, stressed that the Maghrebi media must contribute to the creation of a united and prosperous Greater Maghreb, in a spirit of cooperation and complementarity and not conflict.
The speakers, including academics, heritage researchers and journalists, noted that the points which bring together the countries of the Greater Maghreb, particularly Morocco and Algeria, far exceed those which divide, citing in particular cultural heritage, religion , the language and the common history of resistance against the colonizer.
Speaking at this meeting, organized on the sidelines of the creation of a new regional representation of the FMEJ at the level of Drâa-Tafilalet, the Algerian analyst and journalist, Oualid Kébir, observed that the media can play a determining role in the consolidation of Maghrebi integration and cohesion, just as they can be key players in the conflict and the blocking of the Maghrebi dream.
In this regard, he pointed out the systematic hostile campaign of the media and the press of the military regime in Algeria against the Kingdom of Morocco and its institutions, noting that this policy which divides the peoples of the region and the fruit of a 60-year-old logic of conflict whose aim is to strengthen the internal front in the face of the crisis of political legitimacy of this regime.
“To prevent the Algerian people from rising up and overcoming their internal crises, the current Algerian regime only finds these media campaigns unleashed against Morocco, to the point of undermining the institutions and national symbols of the Kingdom,” he said. deplored, specifying that this “malicious and devious” policy only aims to create conflicts in order to divert the attention of Algerian citizens who demand global reform.
For his part, Mohamed Alaoui, professor of history at the Polydisciplinary Faculty of Errachidia, emphasized the preponderant role of the media in the presentation of the history of peoples and nations, insisting, in this regard, on the importance of an academic and scientific approach based on objectivity and impartiality.
Recalling the important role played by the media and the press of Morocco in the fight against the colonizer, Mr. Alaoui noted that “the transmission and presentation of historical events and facts goes through the journalist before the historian.”
Furthermore, he underlined the importance of forming a united front against media policies which undermine efforts towards Maghreb integration and hinder the building of a Maghreb Union capable of meeting current challenges and achieving the hoped-for prosperity. for the people of the region.
For her part, Fatima Zahra El Bakkouri, teacher at the Polydisciplinary Faculty of Errachidia, criticized the policy of division and conflict led by the Algerian regime, noting that the Moroccan and Algerian people still share the same aspirations and ambitions, despite the border closure.
“The points of convergence between Morocco and Algeria far exceed those which divide,” she insisted, recalling that the two countries form a geographical space characterized culturally by the fusion of Arab-Berber elements, as well as by several points of similarities affecting culture, language, religion, art, music and even traditions and clothing styles.
This North African conference was marked by a vibrant tribute paid by the FMEJ to two figures of the national press, namely the director of the Tamazight channel, Mohamed Mamad, and the journalist Mohamed Regragui.
This meeting was also marked by the participation of the president of the Council of the Drâa-Tafilalet region, Hro Abrou, the president of the FMEJ, Noureddine Miftah, as well as the presidents of the sections and publishers of the five provinces of the region.
In a statement to M24, the MAP’s continuous news channel, Mr. Miftah, stressed that this Maghrebi conference is the crowning of the tenth stage of the regional deployment process of the FMEJ, recalling that the Federation has proceeded, Friday, with the creation of a new regional representation at the level of Drâa-Tafilalet, the tenth of its kind across the Kingdom.
“The theme of this conference was inspired by the particular and privileged place occupied by this region, rich in its history and culture and which is the cradle of the Alaouite Cherifian Dynasty,” he added.
The new branch of the FMEJ in Drâa-Tafilalet was set up during a constitutive general assembly, crowned by the election of Driss Boudach, publishing director of the newspaper “Al-Hadath Press”, to the post of president of this regional section of the Federation.
The Drâa-Tafilalet section of the FMEJ joins those of Dakhla-Oued Eddahab, Laâyoune-Sakia El Hamra, Guelmim-Oued Noun, Souss-Massa, Marrakech-Safi, Fès-Meknes, l’Oriental, Tangier-Tétouan -Al Hoceima and Béni Mellal-Khénifra.
THE FMEJ affirms that it “undertakes this project being fully aware of the historical depth of this region, despite the marginalization from which it currently suffers”, noting that it aims, by bringing together newspaper publishers, to “contribute, through the media, to the region’s development project, the aim being to ensure that its future is in tune with its glorious historical heritage.
2024-09-30 02:02:26