More than 50 leading Arab media outlets are covering an international conference called "Middle East 2020: Is a Comprehensive Settlement Possible?" in Jordan.
The conference, organized by Russian News & Information Agency RIA Novosti and the Russian Council for Foreign and Defense Policy within the framework of the Valdai International Discussion Club, is discussing the Middle East settlement, global energy security, the strengthening of the non-proliferation regime, and a range of other international issues.
The event is to run until December 22.
Among the media focusing on the Jordan talks are the television channels Jordanian TV, Al Jazeera, Al Arabiya, Rusiya Al-Yaum, and KSA, as well as Dubai TV, Palestine TV, Lebanese LBC and ANB, plus the U.S. Arab-language Alhurra TV, and many other state and private TV channels.
Journalists from Jordanian, Egyptian and Iranian news agencies, Petra, Mena and Irna, respectively, as well as representatives of Iraqi media, the Arab Sawa radio station, the BBC Arabic service, and the Egyptian Al Ahram media holding are also present at the talks.
Experts say such wide media attention demonstrates the significance of the conference, which is taking place amid growing tension in the Middle East.
Leading analysts, scientists and politicians from Palestine, Israel, Egypt, Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Russia, Turkey, Iran, Britain, France and the United States are among the participants at the talks.
Former Russian prime minister Yevgeny Primakov, a member of the Presidium of the Russian Academy of Sciences and a respected Middle East expert, is one of the most high-profile of the participants.
CAIRO, December 21 (RIA Novosti)
