St Petersburg To Host Next OANA General Assembly In June

By Nabilah Saleh

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 17 (Bernama) – St. Petersburg, Russia, will host the next General Assembly of the Organisation of Asia-Pacific News Agencies (OANA) from June 18 to 21, with Russian news agency TASS confirmed as the host agency.

The announcement was made during the 54th OANA Executive Board Meeting (EBM) held here today, attended by representatives from 13 international news agencies.

TASS First Deputy Director-General Mikhail Gusman expressed gratitude for the opportunity to organise the event, assuring that the assembly will be conducted at the highest standards.

“For us, it is a great honour that the Executive Board has entrusted TASS with hosting the OANA General Assembly this June.

“We will do our best to organise it at the highest level, ensuring a productive and engaging gathering for all,” Gusman said.

He extended an open invitation to all OANA members, highlighting St. Petersburg’s significance as the northern capital of Russia and its historical importance.

“We invite all members of the OANA family to participate in this General Assembly, and we look forward to welcoming them to St. Petersburg in the middle of June.

“We promise to be good hosts, and we will do everything possible to provide the best conditions for all participants,” he added.

The General Assembly will include panel discussions, structured working sessions, and a cultural programme, with formal invitations to be issued soon.

Gusman also commended Bernama for hosting the 54th OANA EBM in Kuala Lumpur, describing it as an event conducted with “fantastic hospitality and the highest level of organisation.”

Hosted by Malaysia’s national news agency, Bernama, today’s Executive Board Meeting saw the presence of OANA Secretary-General Zaman Rezakhani, who also serves as director of international relations at the Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA), alongside Bernama chief executive officer Datin Paduka Nur-ul Afida Kamaludin and Editor-in-Chief Arul Rajoo Durar Raj.

OANA, established in 1961 under the auspices of UNESCO, remains a crucial platform for news agencies across the Asia-Pacific region, promoting news exchange, professional collaboration, and high journalism standards.

-- BERNAMA