The Chairman of the board of directors of Al Mayadeen, Ghassan Ben Jeddou, met Thursday with the President of the Cuban Institute of Radio and Television and Information Minister, Alfonso Noya Martinez, and the two parties discussed bolstering cooperation among them, underlining the importance of coordination and communication, as well as creating new plans and programs to bolster pre-existing cooperation.

Ben Jeddou lauded Cuban media's efforts, despite the harsh siege and blockade imposed on the island, stressing that "Cuba's resilience is in itself a victory for the nation."

Furthermore, Ben Jeddou expressed Al Mayadeen's desire for deeper cooperation with Latin America, underlining that the media network would always be at the forefront in defending the progressive forces all over the continent and the world.

Noya Martinez, in turn, highlighted that Cuban media, despite the hardship in the country, strives to always keep up with the latest news and issues, and it always seeks to address the younger generation, which is among Cuba's priorities.

The Cuban official underlined Al Mayadeen's critical role in reporting on Cuba's truth to the Arab World and the truth about the Arab World to Cuba and Latin America.

"Cooperation between Cuban media and Al Mayadeen has proven efficient in reporting the truth and confronting the misinformation campaigns waged against the Arab World and Cuba created by hegemonic media platforms that possess the means to spread fake news all over the world," the Cuban official underlined.

However, Noya Martinez explained, "These hegemonic media platforms have a weakness: they do not say the truth, which is a strong point for Al Mayadeen and Cuban media, as they always strive to report the truth. We must defend our values and standards. Our cooperation will surely make for a fundamental factor in consolidating our success."

The Vice President of the Cuban Institute of Radio and Television, Waldo Ramirez de la Rivera, said Al Mayadeen's work was "highly important, for it was able to make a name for itself in record time, and it proved to be highly productive and dynamic, not only in the Arab World but in numerous countries all over the world, in showing the truth and defend just causes."

Furthermore, Ramirez described Al Mayadeen as "very professional [...] we can grow together and learn from one another. There is always a capability for the exchange of expertise to reveal the truth and defend just causes."

This comes after Cuban president Miguel Diaz-Canel decorated on Wednesday Ben Jeddou with the Cuban Medal of Friendship in recognition and appreciation of Ben Jeddou and Al Mayadeen's efforts in media and journalism, during a ceremony held in the Cuban National Library in commemoration of the island's National Press Day, in the presence of journalists, writers, and political analysts.

On his part, Ben Jeddou expressed his gratitude for receiving the medal, stressing that Cuba and Al Mayadeen are following in the footsteps of the [Cuban] revolution of defending humanity and liberation across the world.

The Medal of Friendship is awarded by the Council of State in Cuba, at the request of the Cuban Institute of Friendship with the Peoples (ICAP), to foreigners who demonstrate active solidarity with the Caribbean country and a commitment to defending the revolution.