Baghdad: The International Federation of Journalists called on all Arab unions to speak with one voice to defend the interests of journalists in the region, especially those who face difficulties, stressing its full support for good media and its standing alongside unions and journalists.

The Secretary-General of the Federation, Anthony Bellanger, said in a speech at the central ceremony of the Iraqi Journalists Syndicate on the occasion of the National Day of the Iraqi Press, under the patronage of the Prime Minister today, Sunday, in the capital, Baghdad: ‘On behalf of the International Federation of Journalists (FIJ), which represents more than 600,000 journalists in 148 countries around the world, I would like to express my sincere congratulations to you, and specifically to the head of the Iraqi Journalists Syndicate, Muayyad Al-Lami, on the occasion of this celebration of Iraqi Press Day and this great effort made.

He added: ‘I came to Baghdad for the first time 12 years ago, and every time I visit yo
u, I do not recognize the places, because this city is developing, the Syndicate is developing, and the press is developing,’ addressing the head of the Journalists Syndicate, Muayad Al-Lami, saying, ‘We at the International Federation are aware of your role for journalists, and the vital role you play in maintaining the high standard of the Syndicate, especially the International Federation of Journalists.’

He continued to say: ’20 years ago, when the country was under American occupation, Jim Boumelha (former president of the Federation) led a delegation from the International Federation of Journalists to Baghdad, and he was the first to meet Iraqi journalists, and he was the first to meet the Syndicate. Everyone was under pressure, and everyone were targeted. I would like to mention here that more than 350 Iraqi journalists were killed during that period. I would also like to remember the victims and their families today.

He stated: ‘The International Federation of Journalists and the Federation of Arab
Journalists have proven here in Iraq that they can work together, in very difficult circumstances, and the International Federation of Journalists and the Federation of Arab Journalists were also able to support the Iraqi Journalists Syndicate to be the most legitimate and representative union in the country.’

He explained: ‘These bilateral relations were renewed last February in Brussels with the signing of a new agreement between the two institutions, which was signed by the President of the International Federation of Journalists, Ms. Dominique Pradalé, and the President of the Federation of Arab Journalists, Muayyad Al-Lami. It is a cooperation agreement that focuses on the Syndicate role, good journalism, and international solidarity.’ ‘It aims to strengthen Arab organizations.’

The Secretary-General of the International Federation went on to say: ‘I cannot forget here the Palestinian journalists who were killed 9 months ago, as the International Federation of Journalists counted more than 116 dead to
date – a record number since we started publishing the list of journalists killed around the world, as the Israel army targeted them.’ Many Palestinian journalists, and many of these cases are the subject of a lawsuit that will be submitted to the International Criminal Court in The Hague by the International Federation of Journalists and our Palestinian union, the Palestinian Journalists Syndicate PJs, and I call from Baghdad, all Arab unions to unite their efforts to support the Palestinian Syndicate.”

He pointed out: ‘The Global Executive Committee of the International Federation of Journalists, which met last week, charged us with continuing all our efforts in order to support Palestinian journalists and the Palestinian Journalists Syndicate (PJS), by sending them money, and demanding that the Israeli government allow foreign war correspondents to enter Gaza, to document the massacre, which is happening before our eyes, to conduct investigations into the cases of targeted journalists, and to organize a m
ajor international conference with other global labor unions and global employers’ unions to prepare for the future of this region.’

He concluded his speech by saying: ‘The International Federation of Journalists has always been on the side of journalists and will remain so, and it has also always been on the side of all unions and will remain so,’ indicating that ‘The International Federation of Journalists will always remain on the side of good media, independence, and ethics.

Source: National Iraqi News Agency