قرار رقم (17) لسنة 1993 بشأن انشاء المؤسسة العامة للصحافة

The General People’s Committee

Decree No. (17) of 1993 AD

on the Establishment of the General Press Corporation

The General People's Committee,
Upon review of:

has decreed the following:

Article (1)

A public corporation to be cited as the “General Press Corporation” shall be established with an independent legal personality and financial liability and report to the Secretariat of the General People’s Committee for Media, Culture and Public Mobilization.

Article (2)

The headquarters of the Corporation shall be located in the city of (Tripoli) in the Great Jamahiriya. The Corporation may, by a decree of the Secretary of the General People’s Committee for Media, Culture and Public Mobilization and based on a proposal by the Corporation’s Management Committee, establish offices thereof across the Great Jamahiriya.

Article (3)

The Secretariat of the General People’s Committee for Media, Culture and Public Mobilization shall supervise the Corporation’s affairs and approve the plans and programs necessary for the achievement of its objectives within the general policy of media. In particular, the aforesaid Secretariat shall: 

1. Issue bylaws to regulate the Corporation’s activities, within the framework of the legislations in force; 

2. Approve the Corporation’s annual budget and final account; 

3. Approve loan agreements; and 

4. Assume any other mandates provided for in this Decree or legislations in force.

Article (4)

The Corporation shall be involved in the implementation of the general policy of the media and culture sector, specifically in relation to press. In particular, the Corporation shall: 

1. Raise public awareness on contemporary world affairs, the issues of our local society and Arab nation, as well as the various global trends in order to create an enlightened public opinion to achieve the objectives of the revolutionary march; 

2. Shed light on revolutionary gains and national achievements at both local and international levels, achieve an intellectual and spiritual cohesion among members of the Arab nation, and emphasize the inevitability of Arab unity; 

3. Highlight the true image of the people of the Great Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya by stressing on the reality and Arab and global history thereof; and 

4. Prepare an enlightened generation of journalists, writers and authors who adhere to Islamic morals and believe in the principles and objectives of the First of September Great Revolution. 

In order to achieve its objectives, the Corporation shall: 

a. Issue and own political, economic, cultural and social newspapers and magazines, and disseminate and distribute periodic and semi-periodic publications; and 

b. Cooperate with entities that run similar activities, inside and outside the State.

Article (5)

The organizational structure of the Corporation shall consist of several departments and offices, as set out in the Corporation Bylaws, which shall further identify their functions and organize their relationships.

Article (6)

The management of the Corporation shall be assumed by a management committee consisting of a secretary and four members, to be formed by a decision of the Secretary of the General People’s Committee, based on a proposal by the Secretary of the General People’s Committee for Media, Culture and Public Mobilization.

Article (7)

The Corporation’s Management Committee shall be responsible for the plans and programs required for the achievement of the Corporation’s purposes, within the framework of the State’s information and media plan. In particular, the Committee shall: 

1. Propose bylaws to regulate the Corporation’s administrative, financial and technical affairs, in accordance with the legislation in force; 

2. Prepare the draft annual budget and final account; 

3. Propose obtaining loans from authorities and banks within the limits required for financing the Corporation’s projects; 

4. Review the periodic reports submitted on the Corporation’s work progress and financial position; 

5. Establish and issue newspapers, magazines and other periodic or semi-periodic publications, and propose the appointment of editorial secretaries therefor, subject to the approval by the Secretariat of the General People’s Committee for Media, Culture and Public Mobilization; 

6. Set up the management systems of the Corporation’s newspapers and magazines, approve the action plans that achieve the Corporation’s media objectives, coordinate between them and follow up and monitor their work progress; and 

7. Consider all the issues related to the Corporation’s activity that the Secretary of the General People's Committee for Media, Culture and Public Mobilization or the Secretary of the Management Committee deems necessary to be presented to the Committee. 

The Management Committee may delegate its Secretary to assume some of its responsibilities.

Article (8)

The Secretary of the Corporation’s Management Committee shall assume the responsibilities conferred upon the Chairman of the Authority, in accordance with the legislation in force. In particular, the Secretary shall: 

1. Supervise the Corporation’s work progress; 

2. Implement the resolutions of the Management Committee; 

3. Undertake the functional affairs of the Corporation’s staff members and supervise their regular affairs, and develop the work system of the Corporation in accordance with the legislations in force; 

4. Prepare the draft annual budget and final account; 

5. Prepare the matters to be presented to the Management Committee, and provide the data, studies and statistics necessary to decide upon such matters; 

6. Prepare periodic and annual reports on the Corporation’s work and activity; 

7. Represent the Corporation before judicial authorities and in its relations with third parties; and 

8. Undertake any other responsibilities delegated thereto by the Management Committee. 

In the absence of the Secretary of the Management Committee or the occurrence of any obstructing circumstances, the Secretary of the General People’s Committee for Media, Culture and Public Mobilization shall appoint a member of the Management Committee to substitute the Secretary.

Article (9)

Neither the Secretary of the Management Committee nor any member of the Committee may enter into a contract with the Corporation, whether directly or by means of mediation, for partnership, supply, sale, lease or purchase a right in dispute with the Corporation, or attend a session of the Management Committee, or any other committee formed by the same, if the session addresses a matter presented thereto in which the Committee Secretary or such a member or any of their relatives or in-laws up to the fourth degree has an interest. Any transaction conducted in violation of the aforementioned shall be deemed null and void.

Article 10

The Financial Resources of the Corporation shall consist of: 

1. Revenues earned from its activities; 

2. Appropriations allocated thereto in the State budget; 

3. Proceeds of the gifts, bequest and endowments accepted by the Management Committee that do not contradict with the Corporation’s objectives; and 

4. Proceeds of the loans it enters into.

Article (11)

The Corporation shall have an independent budget that commences and ends with the State’s financial year. The first year shall commence from the date of enforcement of this Decree and shall end at the end of the current financial year.

Article (12)

The Corporation may open a bank account with a bank operating in the Great Socialist People’s Libyan Arab Jamahiriya to deposit its funds therein.

Article (13)

The General People’s Committee for People’s Monitoring and Follow-up shall undertake the examination and audit of the Corporation’s accounts, pursuant to the provisions of the aforesaid Law No. (79) of 1975 AD.

Article (14)

The Secretary of the General People’s Committee for Media, Culture and Public Mobilization shall issue a decree to specify the State-owned newspapers, magazines and other periodic or semi-periodic publications that shall be transferred to the Corporation, together with the funds and assets of the aforementioned publications. The staff members of the aforementioned publications shall further be transferred to the Corporation upon the issue of the such decree, with their same original employment positions. 

Article (15)

This Decree shall enter into force as of the date of its issuance and shall be published in the official gazette.

                                                                                          The General People's Committee

Issued on: 16 Rajab 1402 FDP

Corresponding to: 9 January 1993 AD