In Language of Peace and Justice
25.04.2002Having greeted the event's participants and media forum guests, Nursultan Nazarbayev stressed that geopolitical changes reformed the world. In greater part it concerned our continent. It got a new political appearance.
He stressed that XXI century would become the century of development of Eurasia.
Former obstacles for cooperation of post soviet states with foreign ones are removed. New international organizations like Shanghai Organization of Cooperation and CITA are formed. Caspian sea becomes the main energy base of development in XXI century. Exactly here Atlantic and Eurasian politics are crossed. Expansion from Afghanistan was targeted exactly here. And we, - N. Nazarbayev stressed should not allow irreconcilable opposition of interest here. To have a zone of stability here is very important for whole the world. Despite of the opposition of two world systems has gone, new challenges substitute the old ones. One of them is international terrorism. And we have to recognize, - the President stressed - that peace is still in danger, the mankind has not achieved the understanding of peaceful dialogue priority over armed opposition.
There is no need in conclusions of authorized analytical institutions for us to understand that the roots of such state of community are hidden in global inequality, in poverty and illiteracy.
On data presented at UNO Millennium summit, developing states have 6 trillion dollars debts, 20% of world states possess 80% of whole world resources. About 500 million people suffer wars, international or inter confessional conflicts.
The greater share of present suffers and problems of mankind is the one of our continent's nations, the President stressed. When to take such point of view upon the world and Eurasia, the mankind should understand that salvation is understanding, mutual assistance in development and solidarity.
We have historic grounds for hopes that problems existing at Eurasian space would be solved in peaceful dialogue and cooperation way. And all necessary conditions for it exist. It is firstly, the centuries of mutual influence and mutual enrichment of Slavic and Moslem nations. Secondly, northern Eurasia is one of examples of peaceful coexistence of Islam and Christianity. Thirdly, the fates of young independent states are subjected to common dangers and threats from the part of international terrorism, political extremism and transnational drug business. And to fight with his evil is possible only with all efforts united.
The head of the state considers mass media should serve peace and dialogue between the nations and religions, between rich and poor states and continents. It is their high and historic mission. The globalization of world information space is taking place on total globalization background and different level in economic and political development. Information self-isolation of any state cannot but lead to unpredictable consequences for its future. At the same time the problems of informational dependence of majority of countries upon states-leaders exist. These problems can be of complex and deep social character. That is why we have never forgotten on our informational independence when creating our statehood, Nursultan Nazarbayev stressed. In his opinion the unity of main values such as freedom, openness and Law are in its soul.
Kazakhstan has conducted deep economic and political reforms for the short time, it was recognized a market economy state.
At present 1600 mass media operate in the country with 15 million population. 80% of mass media are non-state. Our citizens express their will at elections, they can speak on their discord with government, they are free in their religious views. We are opened for mass media and the world is opened for Kazakhstan, the President stressed.
Kazakhstan has got a great number of foreign friends and partners. The state has liquidated nuclear weapon, closed nuclear testing ground. World community does not see the threat in our country any more. Thousands of foreign journalists, experts and politicians have visited our country. We heard them out, sometimes agreed, sometimes argued, such was the birth of our democracy, the head of the state remarked, having stressed that democracy is our own choice and we perfect it with our real conditions, our geopolitical situation and regional environment taken into consideration.
- Independent mass media has become the main component of our democracy. We do understand - he continued, - that mass media are strong instrument of influence in modern society. They can inspire assuredness or fears, enrich or deplete souls, create or ruin. Everything depends upon what goals are set by mass media and people mastering them. To draw the line between the restriction of word freedom and demands to observe the law is not easy in the state developing in democratic way. Almost all post soviet states faced the problem.
That is why the President considers mass media should understand their responsibility. In his opinion to preserve and strengthen independence is the main task of our state and mass media should assist our new statehood strengthening, political stability preservation.
Mass media should be the examples of respect to the laws: exactly the observance of laws is the main ground for democracy, human rights and freedoms strengthening, Nursultan Nazarbayev came to the conclusion.
… We live in time when old stereotypes ruin. One known Eurasian writer said: " there exists the East and the West. And they will never be together."
"West and east" were not only the notions of geography, the President considers. But the world completely changed after the 11th of September. According to the head of state, people began not simply condoling victims of wars and terrorism acts in different remote from them places on the planet - they at last have apprehended that entire humanity is in danger, and we all together must determine the fate of the Earth.
Now we witness collapse of old and "convenient" ideas that world is parted into civilized and uncivilized countries, progressive and reactionary states. We all found ourselves as an organic and inseparable part of the united human civilization, wherever we were born.
Really, the world is parted just in our consciousness!
We must do all in our power for West and East would head one to another, and in this very time and on this continent would organize new philosophy of openness and cooperation of civilizations, which will determine the future of entire planet the Earth - our common and single home, the head of the state declared.
He believes that multinational Kazakhstan, where reigns international, inter-confessional and social accord, is already becoming a part of this new world. Finishing the speech, Nursultan Nazarbayev wished participants of the forum successful search for answers to actual questions and challenges of our time, discovery of new ways for development of mass information on the account of the whole world community. He marked: "I hope that your meetings in Kazakhstan will help to construct new bridges for mutual understanding and cooperation between peoples and states".
One of the main targets of the conference was not only to unite efforts of leaders and experts of the world media community of West and the East, but also to maintain new professional contacts, analyze the role of Eurasia at the world policy and define activity of mass media, adequate to new challenges.
On the first day of the forum its participants agreed on principal points of the discussions.
Mr. Khatami appealed to the dialog at the regional as well as at the world level. He thinks that mass media can contribute important part to the development of public life. President of Iran paid much attention to journalist' ethics and responsibility of mass media.
Secretary General of International Federation of journalists Aidan White addressed speech of welcome to participants of the conference. He appreciated this meeting as a courageous event, raising image of Kazakhstan and region. He spoke on painful realities, which complicate work of journalists, and even threat to their lives. Mr. White expressed a hope that this forum would aid establishing strong structures of mass media with high professional culture in the region.
A writer and public figure, ambassador of Kyrgyzstan to France and Benelux countries Mr. Chingiz Aitmatov dedicated his speech to problems of West and East at context of global media processes.
"Eurasia - the Road Crossing of Civilizations" - was the first theme of discussions at the forum. Aide of President on affairs of national security - secretary of Council for Security of the country Mr. Marat Tazhin depicted sources and grounds of the world terrorism. Principal idea of his speech was the next: terrorism is not a crowd of ignorant bigots, but well organized international structures, having large financial means and modern arms, and we must not forget it.
Participants of the conference were interested in the speech of the chairwoman of the directors' board of "Khabar" agency, chairwoman of organizational committee of Eurasian media forum Dariga Nazarbayeva, dedicated to the ideas of the meeting.
Can be Eurasia an arena for dialog between civilizations? This one and a number of other questions were discussed in the course of meetings of ambassador of Spain to Kazakhstan Pascual de la Parte, Russian writer and journalist Dmitry Valovoi, director of center "Eurasia" of Institute of Management of Cambridge University Armen Sarkissian and other participants of the forum. The conference will continue its work on Friday.
By Vadim Makhin.
Source: News and Analytical Agency Kazinform
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