BEIRUT, Aug 12, 2009 (MENASSAT) —On Tuesday, on the third anniversary of al-Akhbar, the Lebanese daily signed a partnership with the Arabic version of Le Monde Diplomatique, a major international newspapers that has more than 70 foreign editions in 25 languages.

At a conference at the Holiday Inn Hotel in Verdun, Beirut, attended by journalists, media persons, and politicians, it was announced that the partnership gives al-Akhbar the exclusive right to distribute a monthly issue of the Arabic language Le Monde Diplomatique in Lebanon and Syria.

The editor-in-chief of Le Monde Diplomatique, Alain Gresh, was present and said that launching the Arabic issue in Beirut and Damascus is important at this time when there are a lot of talks about the division between the East and the West, and Islam and the West.

Gresh also said that his newspaper gives importantce to specific territories that are usually not covered by the local news, such as China, Africa and Latin America.

Al-Akhbar Chairman, Ibrahim al-Amin gave a speech during the ceremony to welcome the invitees, and spoke of al-Akhbar during the past three years.

Editor in Chief le Monde diplomatique Arabic editions, Samir al-AITA talked about the wide popularity of the issue in more than one Arab country, and about the crisis it faced in some countries where government censorship is practiced.

He also said that “Lebanon needs to consolidate its freedom of press by abolishing the old 1953 law, which forbids the issuing of new political newspapers and magazines, forcing newcomers to buy old licenses at high prices.” 

The first issue of the Arabic Monde Diplomatique will appear with al-Akhbar this Saturday.