Mikhail Lesin, Minister of the Russian Federation on Press, TV Broadcasting and Mass Media
On behalf of the Ministry of the Russian Federation on Press, TV Broadcasting and Mass Media let me extend a sincere welcome to the participants and guests of the Second Eurasian Media Forum gathered here in Kazakhstan at a critical time for the whole world.
The importance of the Forum, which has been initiated by the Kazakhstan National Khabar News Agency, is reflected by the momentous and highly representative gathering of world media leaders here. I am confident that, like the first forum, this year's will encourage dialogue on the issues of cooperation in the Eurasian region, involving leading representatives of the area's mass media.
Recent international events have once again demonstrated the increasingly significant role of mass media in world development, as well as in striving to understand problems associated with war and peace and maintaining a harmonious relationship between different cultures and civilizations. I hope participants in the forum will have the opportunity to share their views on these issues and to exchange ideas on the role of mass media in society.
The Russian Federation, Kazakhstan and other CIS countries have gained a range of positive experience in this respect. The Ministry of the Russian Federation on Press, TV Broadcasting and Mass Media strongly supports the idea that mass media should develop their own self- regulation guidelines, which would guarantee independence of press, freedom from censorship and responsibility of journalists. It is the media community that should make efforts to create an industry that condemns negative traits such as the propaganda of war, religious and national intolerance and the encouragement of terrorism and violence.
I wish that the Second Eurasian Media Forum is a great success and I hope all its participants find it a fruitful gathering and that, in some way, it can contribute to the process of collaboration between media and nations.
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