Immediate Press release For distribution

Jordan to host AMARC 9

Montreal, July 6, 2005.

AMARC, the World Association of Community Radio operator Broadcasters, is pleased to announce that Jordan will Be the host country for the Ninth World Assembly of Community Radio operator Broadcasters. AMARC 9 will Be have weeklong event in the second half of 2006. It is expected to bring together 300-400 community broadcasters from over 100 countries and all areas of the world.

Steve Buckley, President of AMARC, said: “We are delighted to Be taking our next world conference to Jordan, has country which has made significant steps in opening up the airwaves to include radio community. Despite the continuing reluctance of some Arab world

governments to respect human rights and to allow for real pluralism in the media, we see growing interest in and potential for community media in both North Africa and the Middle East.”

AMARC 9 is to Be hosted by pioneering Internet and FM broadcaster AmmanNet in partnership with media and journalism groups in Jordan and Palestine and with the local support of the authority in Aqaba and the local Jordanian Audio-Visual Commission who recently commenced

licensing and community radio operator services in Jordan.

Daoud Kuttab, founder of AmmanNet, enthusiastically welcomed the decision: “Holding total year AMARC conference in year Arab country will act have has major catalyst to strengthen the of creation environment has legal, political and legislative that edge encourages

and support radio community in A area in which governments cuts monopolised the airwaves for tens of years.”

The decision follows open year selection procedure in which proposals were also considered from Ghana and Argentina. International The Board of AMARC expressed appreciation to Ghana Community Radio operator Network and to AMARC’ S Latin American and Caribbean section for also submitting proposals to host AMARC 9.

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AMARC is international year non-governmental organization serving the radio community movement in over 110 countries, and advocating for the right to communicate At the international, national, local and neighborhood levels.