Government Commissions The Communication Minister To Organize Media Sector

Prime Minister, Abdelmalek Sellal, announces his support for the Communications Minister, Hamid Guerine, who confirmed that the PM is moving within the government’s work plan, which commissioned him with the task of clearing the media sector as soon as possible, pending the installation of the power of controlling the audio visual media in the coming weeks.

Sellal said during a speech at the Palace of Culture, on the sidelines of the international forum on piracy, that among the 60 TV channels, there are 5 accredited channels, and the rest of channels work illegally.

“The state will lookout for any override and the law will be strictly applied and in all circumstances.”

He asserted in front of a number of government ministers and representatives of copyright international bodies: “Respecting the principles of Algerian society is a red line”, referring to the abuses that were committed, and considers that “A violation of the Algerians’ ethical foundations through promoting insults.” 

In a related context, Sellal added: “The state’s will in the development of the audiovisual sector was honest and complete but in a clean environment that respects the ethics and the law. The state allowed since the issuance of the audiovisual law, a disorganized beginning, waiting for a self-tuning which did not happen, unfortunately. Time has come to apply the law on everyone, transparently and fairly. 

“Government adopted the terms of the notebook, which will give mechanisms to operators who are interested in providing audio-visual services on the legal basis that clearly defines the rights and duties.”

“TV channels that will adhere to the terms of conditions book will be adopted as Algerian channels that will benefit from the support and encouragement, which is guaranteed by the law, while the channels that will not respect the conditions book will be prevented from continuing activity. Procedures that were adopted by the government never constitute a retreat from opening the audiovisual sector but it is a regulation which is applied in the rest of the world. State seeks to encourage the press freedom and media pluralism, but it will lookout for the operations of foreign currency conversion to finance the TV streaming from the outside, and will stand lookout for violating the laws and ethics through exploiting the youth, not providing insurance or the payment of retirement rights, and the state finds itself obliged to protect and secure the future of these youth.”

“Right to access to information and broadcasting does not mean blackmail, slander and defamation of the state frames, and disclosing the secrets of the judicial investigation, and the state will fight in the future the tax evasion, and concealment of proceeds of advertisement in communication companies, and will also fight against violence and discord that is promoted by some channels that practising false advertising, and the violation of private life, honour prejudice and misinformation.”

Sellal went in his speech even further when he said that some channels are working to hit the balance of the community, through promoting hatred and regional strife. These commitments rely on the State’s agents whatever their level, who can not take ambiguous positions while it comes to the values ​​and the foundations of the nation, and any agent who do not respect his duty will be punished.