BBC Monitoring

Excerpt from report by Vision of the Islamic Republic of Iran West Azarbayjan Provincial TV on 15 August

[Presenter] The eighth nationwide conference of heads of TV and Radio Organization started in Orumiyeh today. Our reporter has more:

[Correspondent] The deputy head of the Iranian Majlis affairs department and of the provincial TV and Radio Organizations said that the national media produced over 3,000 hours of programmes during the president's provincial tours.

The conference was attended by Hojjat ol-Eslam Hasani, the supreme leader's representative in the province and the Friday prayer imam of Orumiyeh, and the governor-general of West Azarbayjan Province, Qorbani. Speaking at the start of the eighth conference, Mr Darabi said that coverage of officials' efforts in Islamic Iran is the main goal of the national media, and the president's provincial tours showed their valuable efforts.

He said that coverage of services provided by the government during Government Week and proper reporting of the second round of provincial visits is the objective ! of the national media in the near future.

The deputy head of the Iranian Majlis affairs department and of the provincial TV and Radio Organizations pointed out that programmes of the provincial TV and Radio Organizations are broadcast worldwide and said that today people of the world are able to watch provincial channels, which has improved the quality of programmes.

Mr Darabi pointed out the duty and mission of provincial channels in reporting the Islamic content and national pride of society and said that at the moment, of the 107 TV and radio channels, 75 are located in provinces. He added that all TV and Radio channels should follow the path and ideas of the late Imam Khomeyni and the supreme leader of Iran. He said that the TV and Radio channels must explain Islamic identity and the historical pride of the country.

The governor-general, Qorbani, explained the government's services in the province, pointed out the intensification of the cultural onslau! ght from global arrogance in border areas and said that in order to ha nd over the lessons of the Islamic Revolution to young generations and foil enemies' plots, it is necessary to boost provincial broadcasts in border areas.

[Passage omitted: The governor-general, Qorbani, spoke about provincial programmes]

Another speaker, the head of the provincial TV and Radio Organization noted that various ethnic groups are living in the province and said that based on the supreme leader's instruction regarding the boosting of national unity and Islamic solidarity in the current year, the provincial channel have made different programmes which have established unity against ethnic strife in border areas.

[Passage omitted: The head of the provincial TV and Radio Organization said that 85 per cent of provincial people were satisfied with provincial programmes]

Another speaker, Hojjat ol-Eslam Fakhri, the head of the provincial Islamic Publicity Organization, pointed out the role of the national media and provincial channel and thank! ed them for giving religious lessons to young people.

The eighth nationwide conference of the heads of TV and Radio organizations and the second joint conference of deputy heads of the TV and Radio organizations were held simultaneously.

Officials who participated in the conference discussed the mechanism of the media, the implementation of Article 44 of the Constitution, explanations from national media programmes regarding elections to the Islamic Consultative Assembly and the use of scientific and practical ways in developing the quality and quantity of programmes.

The two-day conference will be continued and chaired by Engineer Zarghami, the head of the Iranian TV and Radio Organization, tomorrow.

[Video showed the event]

Source: West Azarbayjan Provincial TV, Orumiyeh, in Persian 1315 gmt 15 Aug 07