Questions relating to information/Palestine question – GA Fourth Cttee debate – Press release (excerpts)

Fourth Committee

8^th Meeting (AM)

NEED TO BRIDGE ‘DIGITAL DIVIDE’, REDUCING DISADVANTAGE OF DEVELOPING

COUNTRIES, STRESSED IN ASSEMBLY’S FOURTH COMMITTEE

Delegates Also Seek Improved UN Image, Strengthening of Information Centres

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Background

The Fourth Committee (Special Political and Decolonization) this morning continued its consideration of questions relating to information.  For further information, see Press Release GA/SPD/318 of 12 October.

Statements

SAEED RASHED S. ALWAN AL-HEBSI ( United Arab Emirates) …

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He said that, while satisfied with the efforts of the Department of Public Information (DPI) in recent years, further efforts were necessary, including mobilizing necessary resources to improve the capacities of those working in the Arab units in order to enhance radio and TV transmission and to promote their position in the Internet.  His country had pursued a balanced information policy, using the best technologies, in order to enable society to serve national and humanitarian interests and improve relationships with other civilizations and cultures, while retaining the precepts of Islam.  While emphasizing the need to address the relationship between DPI and other United Nations bodies, as well as with non-governmental organizations (NGOs), he called for enhancing the role of the Department.  Awareness should also be raised about Palestine and the Middle East crisis and the suffering of the Palestinian people under the Israeli occupation.

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MOHD PUAD ZARKASHI (Malaysia), …

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 … Palestine remained an important focus for the DPI, which had organized the thirteenth annual International Media Seminar on Peace in the Middle East in Cairo, Egypt, on 13 and 14 June.  He urged the Department to continue to highlight issues relating to the question of Palestine.  He also encouraged the DPI to continue to provide the necessary support for the dissemination of information pertaining to the dialogue among civilization and the dialogue on the culture of peace.

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For information media • not an official record