Okaz/Saudi Gazette

RIYADH — Minister of Culture and Information Awwad Al-Awwad spent about two hours with Deputy Speaker of the Shoura Council Muhammad Al-Jifri and members of the council’s committee on culture, information, tourism and antiquities.

According to informed sources, the meeting discussed issues relating to literary clubs and means of further developing them in addition to revitalization of public heritage in all the regions.

They said the meeting also discussed the information message of the Saudi TV and its role in publicizing the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 worldwide.

The sources said the in-camera meeting discussed a number of media files and issues in the light of rapid developments currently taking place in Saudi media.

Ahmed Al-Zailaie, a member of the committee, said the meetinwg also discussed the opening of cinema houses in the Kingdom, the by-laws organizing them and the necessary licenses for their functioning.

He said the meeting discussed in depth all the issues concerning culture in its comprehensive concept including fine arts, public heritage, literature and others.

“The minister was open and was quite aware of his responsibilities and the tasks on his shoulders,” he said.

Al-Zailaie said the meeting also tackled social media with a view to activating its role in the media, cultural and literary activities.

“The meeting was characterized by transparency and candidness on the part of the minister who revealed all the steps he was taking, the difficulties he was facing and his future plans to upgrade the performance of his ministry,” he said.

Al-Zailaie said the minister listened carefully to all the comments, criticism and suggestions made by committee members and answered them with complete honesty and clarity.

He said Minister Al-Awwad made a good impression on the members who asked him to continue his efforts promising to provide him with all the support he may need.

Al-Zailaie said the circumstances are favorable for the minister at this stage much more than for his predecessors to uplift the sector of culture and information.