Posted on 07/02/2002 9:43:46 AM PDT by kattracks
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, Jul 02, 2002 (United Press International via COMTEX) -- A number of Saudi businessmen have completed the final touches to launch the first Arab satellite television station to address the West and which will broadcast from London, according to a Saudi newspaper on Tuesday.
Prince Mansour bin Nasser bin Abdel Aziz told the Al-Watan newspaper that the cost of the Arab TV channel, which will broadcast from London on Echostar or Direct TV satellites, reached 600 million Saudi Riyals ($160 million) raised from some charity institutions and world banks.
Prince Mansour said the channel will help secure "the return of large amount of Arab money deposited abroad, which exceeded $800 billion, reviving the economies of the Arab countries and opening up new job opportunities for their citizens.
He said it was also meant to "campaign for tourism in the Arab and Islamic countries to allow the world learn closely about their civilizations."
Prince Mansour, a nephew of Saudi King Fahd, said the Arab channel was first to broadcast in English and then in Europe's main languages such as German, French, Spanish and Italian.
"Attracting foreign investments to the Arab and Islamic worlds is one of the TV station's goal by explaining our investment goal and the big investment opportunities that exist in all Arab and Islamic countries without exception," he said.
The Arab TV was planning to host western businessmen to discuss the obstacles facing them for investing in the Arab and Islamic countries so that to help Arab leaders facilitate investment procedures.
Prince Mansour said although the TV channel was a non-profit project, "it will be the voice of the Arabs and Muslims and will rely on sponsoring and advertisements of Arab and Islamic products."
He explained that it will also be balanced and relay "the honest point of view which would correct the West understanding of the Arab and Islamic values based on proofs form the Holy Koran as well as the terrorist-like image of the Muslims after the Sept. 11 attacks."
"It will be an Arab-Islamic political, economic and cultural gain inside the western society and will target making a just balance of trade exchange between the East and the West," he said.
He added that the Arab TV station was "ready to take off after all necessary measures have been completed." He did not give an exact time.
Last month, Arab Foreign Ministers agreed during a two-day meeting in Cairo to launch a campaign addressed to the world public opinion in support of the Palestinians against Israeli oppressive measures. The ministers also endorsed establishing an Arab satellite television station to confront a growing campaign against the Arabs and defend Palestinian rights.
On June 11, Iranian radio began a daily "Voice of Davud" short wave broadcast in Hebrew.
ds-lbt
Copyright 2002 by United Press International.
I was going to go, but the lines at the Camel Ride, the Jihad Jumper and the Tower of the Infidels are just too long thanks to the park staff stopping to pray five times a day.
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