In the current world which the tools, methods, areas, extents, and clash-contact zones of countries have changed and have gone from the direction of the hard war to the soft war, the function of media groups has also become more complicated and more diverse.

Iran Press/Commentary: In the meantime, the advancement of communication technologies comes to the help of media groups in order to increase its effectiveness during this narrative war. One of the other ways of increasing media penetration rate is the establishment of a media bloc which will come into reality by integration of member countries’ equipment and capacities.

The establishment of European Broadcasting Union (EBU), Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union(ABU), African Union of Broadcasting(AUB), Arab States Broadcasting Union(ASBU) and other unions and media blocs were the result of relative commonalities in certain areas. These unions are amongst blocs which have been created in line with enhancing synchronization, synergy, media cohesion, and confronting with malevolent and rival media organizations.

Realizing the effects of media blocs, Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) now is looking forward to become the pioneer in establishing a union for ECO Member States(ECOMU).

Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) is an organization established in 1985 by Iran, Turkey and Pakistan for continuing economic, technical and cultural cooperation between the member countries. By the scope of more than 8 million square kilometers, and by placing more than 400 million populations in it, the organization is the home for one quarter of Muslims populations. The formal language of many of these countries is Farsi or their languages have Persian origin.

These commonalities beside the proper economic, tourism and cultural capacities can pave the way for the establishment of a strong media bloc not only in the regional scope but also in the world.

During the initial consultations, most of the ECO members, including; Afghanistan, Republic of Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Pakistan and Turkey welcomed the proposal presented by IRIB World Service for the establishment of Eco Member States' Media Union. This can be a huge step for Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) to break the monopoly created by the Western media groups for news production.

By establishing the Eco Member States' Media Union and by using the effective tools like culture, art and literature, which all the member countries have commonality in them, IRIB can reinforce the intercultural talks.

Also, by relying on collective wisdom IRIB can reach to a unique and regional media diplomacy, which would be the source of pride and growth for ECO members in the age of globalization.

Written by,

The Executive Secretary of ECOMU, and the head of Iran Press Visual International News Agency Abbas Mohammadnejad

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