ATA was represented at AMAN’s General Assembly by the Director General Valbona Zhupa, and Director of News and Multimedia, Almarina Gegvataj.

Speaking on the occasion, Arif stressed that AMAN has always stood as a symbol of collaboration across the Mediterranean basin, bound not just by geography but by a shared commitment to dialogue and progress.

“As I assume this role, I pledge to nurture and promote these core values. Together, we will continue to build a resilient alliance, one that adapts steadfastly to challenges and that seizes opportunities”, Arif affirmed.

The AMAN President also welcomed the return of the Mauritanian, Libyan and Syrian press agencies to the Alliance, which was confirmed at the 33rd General Assembly.

“Your presence here reaffirms the inclusive spirit and collective strength of our alliance,” Arif told the three agencies involved.

He also expressed his firm determination to carry forward the Alliance’s shared vision, rooted in unity and dialogue, calling for building bridges of knowledge, trust and opportunity that extend beyond borders and generations.

The 33rd General Assembly also saw the election of a new AMAN Secretary General, Branka-Gabriela Vojvodic, Director General of the Croatian News Agency (HINA).

The member agencies also agreed to hold AMAN’s 34th General Assembly in Bosnia-Herzegovina in 2026.

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Following is Djerba Declaration:

Directors General, editors and journalists of news agencies in the Mediterranean region convened, May 24, 25, 2023, for the 31st General Assembly of the Alliance of Mediterranean News Agencies (AMAN), in Djerba, Tunisia, with the participation of 15 news agencies.

Prior to the General Assembly, a conference was organised on May 24, under the theme “Empowerment of Women in the Mediterranean: A Tunisian Perspective.”

The conference saw the attendance of representatives of Mediterranean news agencies, as well as Minister of Family, Women, Children and the Elderly Amal Belhaj Moussa. Esteemed Tunisian experts and scholars seeking to advance women’s rights contributed to the conference through their insightful interventions.

CEO of the host News Agency, TAP, Najah Missaoui, who will assume the AMAN presidency for a one-year term spanning 2023/2024, said the theme of the conference “testifies to the indispensable role of Mediterranean women in fostering sustainability and their unwavering determination to further augment their contribution to the economic landscape.”

Likewise, Minister Belhaj Moussa expressed her admiration for the chosen topic and highlighted the pivotal role of media in documenting and putting success stories of women in development and wealth creation under spotlight, thus serving as a beacon of hope.

She emphasised that economic empowerment of women requires substantial involvement of the media. Director General of the Croatian News Agency and outgoing President of AMAN Branka-Gabriela Vojvodić said the Alliance is able to triumph over cultural, religious, and civilizational differences among member countries. She highlighted the robust unity within AMAN, citing a profound understanding and extensive common ground, “particularly with regard to integrity.

During the conference, experts and women’s rights advocates were unanimous in stressing that the empowerment of women is a fundamental right that can only be achieved through the defence of women’s rights and the fight against all forms of violence against women.

Speakers discussed different aspects of women’s empowerment including the journalism sector. Several concepts related to empowerment were explained during this debate between speakers and participants, including humanitarian communication, networking and its role in empowering women journalists.

Accordingly, the AMAN General Assembly pledges to:

➢ Conduct Comparative Study and Archiving Member Agency

Experiences. We shall advocate for the systematic conduct of an indepth study encompassing the diverse experiences of member agencies. This study should aim to analyse and document the unique approaches, challenges, and successes encountered by each agency.

➢ Foster North-South Cooperation: We shall acknowledge the importance of collaboration between the Northern shore countries and Southern shore countries of the alliance. Encourage member agencies from the Northern side to extend support to their counterparts in the Southern side in terms of logistical assistance, resource sharing, and capacity building.

➢ Engage Non-Mediterranean Agencies/Countries for Insight: we shall recognise the value of diverse perspectives and global knowledge in enhancing AMAN’s growth and member countries’ capabilities. We recommend the invitation of non-Mediterranean agencies and countries to contribute insights and experiences to the alliance without seeking membership.

➢ Enhance Cross-Cultural Exchange: Member agencies shall streamline more exchanges of journalists and professionals across member countries. This can help foster a deeper understanding of diverse cultures, promote dialogue, and provide unique perspectives in news reporting.

➢ Promote Media Training and Development: We shall advocate for holding training programmes, workshops, and seminars that focus on strengthening the skills and knowledge of journalists and photojournalists. These initiatives can cover areas such as digital journalism, multimedia reporting, fact-checking, and data analysis to adapt to the evolving media landscape.

➢ Empower Women in Journalism: Member agencies would recognize the importance of gender equality in the media and support initiatives that empower women journalists. We shall promote equal opportunities, address gender biases, and provide a conducive environment for women to thrive in journalism.

➢ Engage in Digital Transformation and Innovation: We shall embrace the digital era by encouraging member agencies to invest in technology, digital platforms, and innovative storytelling techniques.

Hina organized a conference of the Alliance of Mediterranean News Agencies (AMAN), whose aim it is to promote sustainability, socially responsible business and environmental protection, with a focus on the Mediterranean region.

At the conference, attended by media representatives from Europe, the Middle East and North Africa, the Croatian national news agency presented its experience from the EU project for a green plan for the Mediterranean, and Hina’s specialized website “Green Croatia” (Zelena Hrvatska”) was launched as well.

The conference heard messages from scientists that the Mediterranean was a region more sensitive to climate change than the rest of the world, that it was one of the most polluted seas in terms of micro plastics and that in order to preserve it, cooperation was necessary between the countries sharing it, as well as with the media and science.

The conference was addressed by Croatian Culture and Media Minister Nina Obuljen Koržinek, who welcomed the cooperation between the Mediterranean news agencies, pointing out that the area of environmental protection was not spared from disinformation, which was why the role of public media was more important than ever when it comes to reporting scientific facts.

Dubrovnik Mayor Mato Franković gave a presentation on the measures the city introduced to make it more sustainable in terms of tourism and better for the lives of its citizens.

The central panel on sustainability was attended by representatives of news agencies from Greece, Italy and Croatia, socially responsible investment funds, communications and the business world.

Tomorrow, the 30th AMAN General Assembly will be held and Hina will take over the one-year presidency of that alliance. The participants will then visit a local farm where they will learn about the centuries-old tradition of silk-making in that area.