Media called on to form regional body

GASABO - Dr. Richard Sezibera, the Presidential Special Envoy to the Great Lakes region, Friday called for media support in the establishment of regional information and communication council. Sezibera who also heads International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR) national coordination mechanism, was addressing media representatives at a one-day meeting at Hotel Novotel in Kigali. “There is a need for a professional and vibrant media in order to strengthen regional stability and democracy. It would be a great advantage if the Rwandan media fraternity took a forefront in that,” added Sezibera. A pact was signed in Nairobi 2006 by 11 member states of the ICGLR for peace, stability and development in the Great Lakes Region. The creation of an information and communication council was one of the initiatives born out of this pact. The establishment of a council will harmonise the interstates effort to safeguard media from being manipulated for anti humanity acts. Having a common vision on designing strategies on the establishment of the regional council was among the recommendations of this week’s meeting. A national steering committee composed of five media representatives who include the New Times Managing Editor, Ignatius Kabagambe, was formed to spearhead the task. “I would like personally to get news beyond Rwanda borders. And I believe the regional information and communication council will help,” the German Ambassador to Rwanda, Christian Clages, explained. The German government funds the ICGLR. Clages said that such reporting will enable people to have an opportunity to challenge poor regional leadership that hinders the implementation of the pact. Ends