The Russia Information Agency (RIA Novosti) on Wednesday here held a press conference on the occasion of re-launching the monthly newspaper, Moscow News in Arabic -- Anbaa Moscow in the Arab world.
The re-launch of the currently monthly-issued publication came after a 17-year-long break, as it is designed to improve Russia's dialogue with the Arab world, Anbaa Moscow Editor-in-Chief Raed Jaber told reporters.
The editions will portray political, economic, and social life in Russia, as well as feature articles on tourism, culture, science and technology, Jaber added, pointing out that the paper will have a circulation of 150,000 copies in 15 Arab countries and Israel, 1,000 of which will be circulated in Russia.
Should it succeed, the paper could switch to weekly or even daily editions in the near future, he noted.
On the feasibility of considering the re-launching of an Arabic, and even paper, edition of the Moscow News amidst the ever growing number of online news sites either for prominent dailies or columnists, Jaber responded that such a digital gap could now be sensed in Europe, yet, and according to professional statistics, paper publications are still on demand.
Such digital gaps have not fully reached the Arab world, he said, and if it did, we have a time span of five to 10 years in guaranteed circulation, as the internet site of the Anbaa Moscow is in the making, Jaber explained. Most reporters and authors of Anbaa Moscow are staff of RIA Novosti.
Not to be confused with Russia Today TV news service, Jaber said that the relation combining the two entities is cooperation, as they, the TV and newspaper, are under the umbrella of RIA Novosti.
Since the paper will be issued monthly, it would not cover hard news, yet it would focus on investigative reports, features and articles, Jaber said.
Established in 1969, Moscow News in English stopped issuing after the fall of the Soviet Union back in 1991, and the re-launching of it along with its new Arabic sister, is in celebration of the 40th anniversary of the publication.
In 2007, the Moscow News was re-launched in a new, modern, full-color format, doubling the number of pages and employing foreigners to report on and serve the growing expatriate community in Russia.
RIA Novosti is a state-owned news agency based in the capital Moscow and was established in 1941 in Soviet Russia. - Kuna