Oleg Poptsov, President OJSC "TV Center", Russia

Dear colleagues,

The idea of conducting the Eurasian Media Forum is all the more imperative given the current challenging situation in the world. For a while it seemed as if the legacy of events at the end of the 20th century would be democratic expansion, the introduction of a number of nations the norms of democratic civilization heralded a bright future. However, already at the start of this century those hopes have been seriously undermined. Fear, mistrust, broken understandings between people and governments have become the reality of our times. Open dialogue and exchange of ideas and resolving to reach mutual understandings are the only way these dangerous new trends can be stopped.

I am confident that to some extent the global media community holds the destiny of the world in its hands. The very idea of conducting the Eurasian Media Forum speaks of the fact that journalists realize their responsibility.

The world's media represents a unique niche in modern civilization. I hope that one of the outcomes of the Eurasian Media Forum will be the development and strengthening of creative, business and professional relationships between journalists, representing their countries in our meeting in the center of the Eurasian continent.