The Islamic News Agency, IINA, Sunday, opened its fifth round of General Assembly meetings in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, at the headquarters of the Organization for Islamic Cooperation.

Presiding over the Assembly was Saudi Culture and Information Minister, Head of the Agency's Executive Board, Awwad Ben Saleh Al Awwad, in the presence of the Organization's Secretary General, Youssef Ben Ahmad Al Otheimen, and several other news agencies' prominent officials.

Representing Lebanon at the General Assembly was National News Agency (NNA) Director, Laure Sleiman Saab, alongside representatives of 55 Islamic countries partaking in its meeting.

In his address to participants, the Saudi Minister hoped that the Assembly would be a start for developing media institutions to meet the challenges facing the Islamic world.

"The Organization in its new form will be able to enhance its role in supporting and qualifying media professionals in all member news agencies, and launching programs and projects that render them more familiar with the common Islamic issues," Al Awwad indicated.

"All your efforts to develop and improve the performance of your Organization will be rewarded by achieving effective communication between member agencies," he added reassuringly.

At the end of its works, the General Assembly adopted several resolutions, including a plan to redress the work of the Agency and to transform it into a Union.

It also endorsed a comprehensive work plan as part of the OIC agenda for 2025, and the role of news agencies in the Organization's member countries in support of the Palestinian cause

Source: NNA