SATURDAY, APRIL 27TH, 2002

09.30—11.00: Plenary Session #7
EURASIA — THE ROLE OF THE MEDIA
MEDIA CULTURES — EAST-WEST ATTITUDES
Mass media in the wider context of Eurasia. An East-West channel of communication? Does the East understand the West? Does the West understand the East? Can the media help? Differing influences and traditions in Eastern and Western media — culture and religion, ideas and ideology. Changing attitudes towards the media. The role of the media in uniting peoples and reconciling differences. What role can New Media play in the development and diversity of the regions information sources?
Moderator: Johann P. FRITZ, director, International Press Institute (Austria)
Panelists:

Mike REILLY, principal, Globalwriters (USA)
Istvan PALFFY, head of news department, tv2, MTM-SBS Television (Hungary)
Henrikas IOUCHKIAVITCHIOUS, advisor to director general, UNESCO (France)
Anthony ROBINSON, founder, «Vedomosti» Russias independent Business Newspaper
Charles FRANK, former VP, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (UK)

11.00—11.15: Coffee break (Ballroom lobby).

11.15—13.00: Plenary Session #8
Discussion continues.
Discussion continues. Media independence: an essential component of democracy. Resisting pressure — covering politics and big business. Safeguards and protection mechanisms. Freedom of expression within the law. Maintaining an independent voice. Media ethics — honesty as the best policy? Regulatory bodies or self-regulation? Lessons learned since independence: mass media trends in the context of political and social developments. What has changed? *Producer: Khabar Agency (Kazakhstan)
Moderator: Vladimir RERIKH, advisor to the Chairperson of the Board of Directors on development, Khabar Agency
Panelists:

Vsevolod BOGDANOV, chairman, Union of Journalists (Russia)
Ashot DJAZOYAN, general secretary, International Journalist Unions Confederation (Russia)
Yuri GOLIGORSKY, editor, Central Asia and Caucasus Service, BBC World Service
Tamara KALIEVA, «Adil Soz» (Kazakhstan)
Andrey KOLESNIKOV, PR director, FBK, member of the Creative Board of the League of right political parties, columnist «Izvestiya Newspaper»
Vilyus KAVALYAUSKAS, advisor to Prime Minister of Latvia on press and international information
Leonid EKEL, chairman, Belorus Journalists Union

13.00—14.30: Lunch (Asian Cafe).

15.00—17.00: CLOSING SESSION
Moderator: Dariga NAZARBAYEVA, chairperson of the Board of Directors, Khabar Agency (Kazakhstan)
Panelists:

Lutfulla KABIROV, chairman, Journalists Union of Uzbekistan
Vsevolod BOGDANOV, chairman, Union of Journalists (Russia)
Sultanbayev ABDYKADYR, Zhogargy Kenesh (Kyrgyzstan)
Allan ALAKULA, Estonian Journalists Union
Riz KHAN, broadcaster, journalist, president, Rizkhan Productions (USA)
Konstantin SYROEZHKIN, Continent (Kazakhstan)
Mary DEJEVSKY, diplomatic editor, The Independent (UK)
Alexander GURNOV, head, International Panorama Studio (Russia)

18.30—22.00: Forum Gala Event hosted by Khabar Agency, including the Concert of Kazakhstan Modern Performing Arts («Arkobaleno» restaurant).