The 18th General Assembly of the Organization of Asia-Pacific News Agencies (OANA) officially kicked off in the Iranian capital of Tehran on Monday.
Mohammad Mehdi Esmaili, Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance of the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Managing Director of the Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) Ali Naderi delivered a speech in the opening ceremony of the OANA summit on Monday.
"The Islamic Republic of Iran considers the media as a tool for the promotion of truth and freedom for all countries of the world," Esmaili said at the meeting.
Today, media is no longer a tool of power, it is power itself, Esmaili said, adding that the media can be either in service of happiness for mankind and peace or a means of oppression, injustice, and division.
"The Islamic Republic of Iran supports popular, right-seeking and free media, Esmaeili added.
Holding the OANA General Assembly in Tehran has several important messages for the world, the Iranian minister said, adding that this shows that the country enjoys peace and it is moving in the direction of development and progress.
The other message is the active presence and participation of people in all affairs of the country, he added.
Referring to the participation of 50 news agencies from all the regional countries and the Asian continent at the Tehran meeting, he said, "This shows that Iran, as one of the leading countries in the region, has a high capacity in the media field."
Speaking to media on the sidelines of the meeting, Esmaili said Iran will file a lawsuit against anti-Iran adversary Persian language TVs based in Europe and North America for spreading lies and fomenting riots in Iran, adding that the case will be pursued through legal organizations including the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other relevant apparatuses.
Also, a senior media official from the South Korean News Agency of Yonhap, Kim Hyeon-jun, gave a speech at the meeting.
RHM/