Ammon News - AMMAN - The Jordanian media community on Tuesday welcomed His Majesty King Abdullah's acceptance of the resignation of Environment Minister Hazim Malhas who quit over "offensive" remarks against media institutions and individuals.

A statement by the Jordan Press Association JPA lauded the King's approval of the resignation and pledged to continue to work to achieve the King's vision of a democratic and pluralistic Jordan where the law holds supreme for all.

The minister submitted his resignation to Prime Minister Samir Rifai yesterday.

The JPA hailed Rifai's stance for apposing any abuse against journalists and stressing that the relationship between the press and the executive authority is one of complementarity based on values and cooperation. However, the JPA said the media is not in a confrontation or contest with any one as it stands at the same distance from public and private institutions and aims to highlight facts and put them before the public and decision-makers in a neutral, objective and transparent fashion.

"At the same time, the media community does not claim to be infallible, but it may make inadvertant errors as it shuns character assassination and libel", the statement added.

The statement, released after the JPA held an emergency meeting, said that it would continue to defend national and professional values through enforcing its laws and regulations in order to avoid any behavior to infringe on national institutions or individual rights.

* Petra