Dmitriy Voskoboinikov

CEO, CJSC Interfax Russia

I would like to warmly greet the participants of the 4th Eurasian Media Forum.

Over the last few years the forum has become well known and respected worldwide. This is a result of the principal stand taken by its organisers i.e. avoiding formalism and tendentiousness, and giving a chance to speak to the media reflecting the widest spectrum of political views. I also believe that to a large if not decisive extent the success of Almaty conferences is predetermined by efforts made by Dariga Nazarbayeva as chairperson of the organising committee. Special thanks to her.

Every time I visit the Forum I encounter extremely interesting debates on the role of journalists in the modern world, on issues related to restrictions imposed on the freedom of speech on the plea of “struggle against terrorism”, on factors brought by the internet into our lives and on many other relevant topics. I am confident that those who came to Almaty this time will have a chance to be provided with in-depth analysis, exciting stories told by witnesses of one or another events which impacted or continue impacting our world which is becoming increasingly interrelated in some instances by wire and sometimes wireless links.

I understand that one of the topics to be discussed at the forum is coverage of the tragedy in South-eastern Asia, after which 300,000 people were reported dead. I decided to indirectly contribute to the discussion. The point is that I am not only the CEO of Interfax international information group but also editor-in-chief of Europe magazine published in Russia by Interfax as assigned by the European Commission. Tsunami caught me on Maldives Islands where I was hoping to carelessly celebrate the New Year. Speculations on the tragedy, on response to natural disaster and human hardships given by not only me favourite European Union but also by the United States actively attempting to connect Eurasia are contained in information attached hereto which as I hope will animate Forum discussions.

I wish you good luck in all your noble initiatives.