QNA
Doha, November 01 (QNA)

Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani and Father Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani attended 20th anniversary of Al Jazeera Media Network. It was held at its headquarters. Present on the occasion were Sheikha Moza bin Nasser, Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al-Thani, Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, Sheikhs, ministers, president and board members of the network along with a host of intellectuals and media personalities.

Father Emir in his address lauded network's credibility and commitment to tell the truth since its inception. Father Emir said that Qatar decided two decades ago to establish an Arab media outlet that allows people of the region to see the world from their perspective, an outlet that would raise awareness and enjoy the highest level of credibility and professionalism on par with the rest of the world.

Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa AlThani said that today was a good opportunity to reflect with pride on the result of these twenty years, stressing that Al Jazeera marked the birth of the greatest Arab Media outlet yet.

'There were many achievements Al Jazeera made over the past two decades' Father Emir said. One of them was that it freed the Arab viewers from relying on the foreign media which was biased against Arab interests and aspirations. Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa AlThani said that the network proved to Arab people that they can rely on an Arab network that offers all opinions in a balanced manner. To this day, he said Al Jazeera remains committed to the truth and the aspirations of the Arab people for freedom and dignity.

Father Emir said that Al Jazeera strengthened ties between Arab people regardless of their sects and entrenched the belief in a common destiny, highlighting that the network chose the classical Arabic language because it is understood all over the Arab World.

He said that the network's rise to glory was done over a very short period of time. It also adapted to the changes by launching its very special digital service (AJ+) and focused on involving the youth in dialogue. HH the Father Emir stressed that the adulation Al Jazeera receives from Arab people was unmatched by any other media outlet, even internationally.

Mentioning about Al Jazeera English, Father Emir said that it succeeded in imposing itself as a strong competitor with high credibility. Al Jazeera English also freed the international public opinion from media monopoly, allowing people of the world to listen to different narratives and opinions.

HH the Father Emir maintained that the network took objective criticism on board in its constant bid to improve its performance. His Highness stressed however that the channel never wavered from its independent editorial policy which is committed to the truth and human beings wherever they are. He highlighted that not all criticism aimed at Al Jazeera was objective, adding that in cases it was prejudiced against Al Jazeera and the State of Qatar. Despite that Qatar never crumbled under pressure and continued offering Al Jazeera everything it needed to develop its performance.

Father Emir said that the network paid a heavy price for its commitment to the truth, represented in the death and imprisonment of many of its reporters. He said that those who were prejudiced against Al Jazeera should have been more fair, rather than push to change the network's editorial policy.

In his closing remarks, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa AlThani highlighted on the destruction taking place today in a number of Arab and Islamic cities that saw the birth of human civilization thousands of years ago. He called on the network to remain committed to humanity and life in their coverage of those agonizing tales in Aleppo and Mosul which the world turned a blind eye to.

Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, Father Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani and Sheikha Moza bint Nasser paid a visit to the exhibition that accompanied the 20th anniversary celebration. It included some of the belongings of Al Jazeera journalists as well as a number of documentary films covering the network's milestones.