Ammon News - AMMAN (Petra) A delegation of international media watchdogs on Wednesday visited the Senate for a briefing on the Kingdom's media sector and associated freedoms.

Meeting the delegation, President of the Senate Taher Masri said the freedom and development of the media is a primary goal of the reform process in Jordan, stressing that the media should operate within the framework of responsibility and professionalism.

With regard to the Press and Publications law, Masri said the law, like any other law, was subject to debate and dialogue among all partners within a democratic environment that embraces all points of view.

Should the law need amendments, it must go through constitutional channels, he said, adding that all complaints were related to news websites.

The delegates, on their part, warned that the implementation of the new Press and Publications law would pose a "risk" to the freedom of expression and opinion in the Kingdom, calling on the government to amend the law.

The delegation included representatives of the International Press Institute, ARTICLE 19, and Human Rights Watch.