JEDDAH, 26 December 2002 — Dr. Nizar Tawfiq, secretary-general of the Regional Organization for the Conservation of Environment of the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden (PERSGA), announced yesterday the establishment of a media network that will support the organization in its efforts to protect the environment and conserve the marine resources of the region.

The name chosen for the network is MERSA, Media for the Environment of the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. This came on the final day of a five-day workshop at the organization’s headquarters in Jeddah, organized by PERSGA with the participation of journalists from Jordan, Djibouti, Egypt, Somalia, Sudan, Yemen, and Saudi Arabia, the seven member countries of PERSGA.

Dr. Tawfiq stressed the importance of establishing MERSA within the framework of raising environmental awareness among people by encouraging them to cooperate in sustaining the development and conserving the natural resources of the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. He underlined the significant role of the media as a link between officials and the public in reaching the common goal of protecting the marine environment, especially in the face of increasing dangers associated with pollution, industrial and tourist facilities, and over fishing.

Over the five days of the workshop from Dec. 21 to 25, the journalists who participated in establishing MERSA discussed with environmental specialists the different aspects of these dangers, their negative consequences, and the need to coordinate the media’s efforts with PERSGA. The goal is to deliver the message to the people and the decision makers about taking steps to curb these dangers for the benefit of everyone.

They also discussed creating a media kit for the journalists involved and future members of the network that will include all the necessary information regarding the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. And within two months a website will be launched for exchanging information, cooperating, and coordinating the efforts of all environmentally concerned media personnel and organizations from the region.

Dr. Tawfiq expressed PERSGA’s commitment to supporting MERSA, particularly in its initial years.

This sentiment was echoed by Prince Turki ibn Naser, president of the Presidency of Meteorology and Environment, who met with the journalists and spoke of their important role in raising public awareness and improving the cooperation among member countries of PERSGA.