Hilary Benn at the first anniversary of Al Mirbad TV and Radio

Mr Benn was speaking at a special event marking the first anniversary of Al Mirbad TV and Radio. Created with the support of the BBC World Service Trust’s Media Development team, Al Mirbad serves a population of around 4 million people in Basra, Amara and Nasiriya.

An indpendent, non-partisan broadcaster

That’s why Al Mirbad is so important, because a high quality and independent media is an essential foundation of accountable politics.   Hilary Benn, Secretary of State for International Development

The event, hosted by Zeinab Badawi, a Trustee of the World Service Trust, featured a live skype link-up between London and the Al Mirbad team in Basra.

“The deteriorating security situation around Basra makes the achievement of this young team of Iraqi programme makers and journalists even more astounding,” says the Trust’s Iraq Director, Abir Awad.

“Al Mirbad has succeeded in carving out its own identity as an independent, non-partisan broadcaster concentrating on locally-made programmes. Radio Al Mirbad has the highest audience awareness and reach of any local or regional radio station in Southern Iraq and Al Mirbad Television has the highest reach of any TV station broadcasting in its region, despite a limited transmission schedule.”

Broadcasts continue despite increased security concerns

Al Mirbad runs the integrated television and radio operation from its Basra studios in a converted house and almost 100 of its 150 locally-recruited front-line staff have been through BBC training. The project is managed by the World Service Trust and funded by the UK’s Department for International Development.

I’d like to pay tribute to the staff of Al Mirbad, to your courage in extremely difficult conditions. You should all be very, very proud of what you have achieved.   Hilary Benn, Secretary of State for International Development

In a live Q and A session with the UK Secretary of State and the Iraqi Ambassador, His Excellence Dr Salah Al Shaikhli, the Al Mirbad team described how they were continuing to broadcast in spite of increased security concerns which mean that the station’s women reporters are temporarily unable to report from the streets of Basra.

Speaking to the Basra team, Hilary Benn said: “I’d like to pay tribute to the staff of Al Mirbad, to your courage in extremely difficult conditions. You should all be very, very proud of what you have achieved.

“That’s why Al Mirbad is so important, because a high quality and independent media is an essential foundation of accountable politics. Of an effective and representative government – one which will serve the interests of the Iraqi people, be accountable to the people, and one which they can feel confident in.”

One of the key aims of the World Service Trust is to help Al Mirbad make itself financially self-sustaining in the long term – a major challenge given the low level of advertising revenues in the country.

New regional investment in Al Mirbad

Nigel Chapman, Director of the BBC World Service and Chairman of the BBC World Service Trust, announced that Emirates Media Incorporated (EMI), had facilitated new regional investment in the Al Mirbad operation.

It’s still not an easy environment to develop a business but we feel Al Mirbad is doing something very special and we are determined to do all we can to make sure it succeeds. We are very grateful for the support that’s been announced   Chief Operating Officer, Al Mirbad

A new purpose-built studio centre for Al Mirbad is to be funded by the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan. Logistics and technical co-ordination of this new partnership will be handled by Emirates Media Incorporated.

In Basra, Al Mirbad’s Chief Operating Officer commented: “It’s still not an easy environment to develop a business but we feel Al Mirbad is doing something very special and we are determined to do all we can to make sure it succeeds. We are very grateful for the support that’s been announced”.

Further information: Abir Awad, Project Director: abir.awad@bbc.co.uk