The President of the Syndicate of Publishers, Joseph Al-Qusaifi, recalled, in a speech in which he focused on what the Syndicate has achieved during this year, that “despite the suffocating economic crisis”, noting that “the Syndicate has achieved international results and The Arab Union counts, in addition to achievements of a social and demanding nature”, underlining that “the Syndicate Council spares no effort in its struggle to provide incentives to colleagues, who remain limited, the share that supports the waste “.
He explained, during a general meeting held by the Syndicate, that “the print press is threatened in its continuity and existence without receiving support from the state, and is part of Lebanon’s heritage and the pillar of its cultural heritage and national memory. Allo likewise, all media sectors are suffering a lot and going through difficult conditions, but we will work steadily.” And without despair, so that Lebanon remains a haven for freedom of the press and the media, which the Syndicate of Publishers seeks to preserve and protect.
In addition, Union Secretary George Shaheen revealed, during the recitation of the administrative statement he prepared, in which he hinted at what the Union Board has accomplished this year, that “despite the suffocating financial crisis, unfortunately , carrying off a duty has become regarded as an achievement.”
He stressed that “at the administrative level, the meeting room of the union was equipped with the latest computers, projectors, screens, imaging equipment, air conditioning and lighting through the Turkish institution “TIKA”, and the hall was inaugurated in the presence of the Turkish ambassador. The union council has also managed to obtain a 20 percent discount. On the mobile phone bill (Touch and Alfa). journey for colleagues who wish to travel on its lines”.
Shaheen said that “the union has also distributed, through its very limited capacity, due to the holding of its funds in banks, just like the unions of the liberal professions, aid in kind. It is still following the issuance of the implementing decrees of the law for the entrustment of editors to the National Social Security Fund – sickness branch after approval by the Chamber of Deputies The Union assisted colleagues who wanted to obtain passports quickly, due to work needs.
He specifies that “even with regard to social issues, the optional agreement with one of the mutual funds which provides for health coverage remains valid. on the website of the Press Editors Syndicate.” All this except the permanent participation in the meetings of the unions of the liberal professions to defend the rights of these unions on their deposits and on the patrimony of their funds held in banks, and their call to commemorate the martyrs of the Lebanese press in the arena bearing their name in a mass ceremony, and their blatant refusal to touch the freedom of the press and the media. The appearance of any colleague, man or woman, except before the Publications Tribunal.
Shaheen stressed that “all of this is in addition to attending media conferences and preparing a specialized press conference in agreement with the Faculty of Information and Documentation of the Lebanese University and the Directorate of Studies of the Ministry of Information. Without neglecting the meetings of the Freedom Committee, which monitors and monitors the situation of media freedoms in Lebanon in light of the growing Hate speech, and the continuous media clash between political parties, while the country bleeds and suffers.
He explained, ‘At the international and continental union level, Captain Joseph Al-Qusaifi was elected Assistant Secretary General of the Union of Arab Journalists. Fellow treasurer of the union, Ali Youssef, was elected as a member of the Executive Council of the Federation International of Journalists and the Asian Federation of Journalists”, noting that “all this was done in Lebanon”. In the eye and heart of the storm, it is surrounded by difficulties and challenges which will inevitably reflect negatively on its press and media, and we will continue to work to deliver more and better in the coming days.
In turn, the union’s treasurer, Ali Youssef, presented the union’s financial report for the year 2022, in which he refuted the financial income and expenditure and the deficit.
At the end of the work of the General Assembly, the General Assembly unanimously approved the administrative report and authorized the financial reporting of the members of the Association Council until the end of the 2022 union year.
