Day 1
DAY 1 – Thursday, April 24
Chair of the Conference:
Riz Khan, Broadcaster, TV host, Al Jazeera International, USA
08.00 Registration opens
09.20 Access into the Ballroom will not be allowed after 9.20 am
09.30-10.00: Conference Opening Ceremony (Ballroom)
Welcome Address Nursultan NAZARBAYEV, President of the Republic of Kazakhstan
Welcome Speech H.E. Srgjan KERIM, President of the 62nd session of the United Nations General Assembly, USA
Welcome and Conference Introduction Dr. Dariga NAZARBAYEVA, Chair of the Eurasian Media Forum Organizing Committee
10.00-10.30: Coffee break (sponsored by Russia Today)
10.30-12.00: Session #1 (Ballroom)
"COLD WAR" DJ VU
Many observers believe that Putin's Munich speech accusing the Bush administration of trying to establish a "unipolar" world is similar to Churchill’s “Iron Curtain” speech and the famous “crusade” against the “empire of evil”, proclaimed by Reagan in 1983. A number of factors over the past months have increased the diplomatic tension between Russia and the West:
- the polonium-210 poisoning of Alexander Litvinenko and the refusal of Russia to extradite the suspect Lougovoy;
- US vice-president Dick Cheney's harsh criticism of Putin's visit to Iran;
- the closure of the British Council offices in Russia;
- the acute situation around the independence of Kosovo;
- the intention by the US to situate an anti-missile system in Eastern Europe;
- the continuing expansion of NATO
Each of these has added to the debate about whether the cold war truly ended leading some to speculate that the increasingly hostile accusations between Russia and the West signal that the relationship has simply taken a new form.
• What are the predictions for this relationship as different leaders come to power in both Russia and the US?
• What does current Russian foreign policy stand for?
• How has the media coverage and rhetoric of these events changed? How dangerous is the tendency for the media to rely on stereotypes or clichs when covering certain political developments on the global stage?
• What are the roles and responsibilities of Western and Russian media in accurately portraying what could become a new "cold war"?
Many observers believe that Putin's Munich speech accusing the Bush administration of trying to establish a "unipolar" world is similar to Churchill’s “Iron Curtain” speech and the famous “crusade” against the “empire of evil”, proclaimed by Reagan in 1983. A number of factors over the past months have increased the diplomatic tension between Russia and the West:
- the polonium-210 poisoning of Alexander Litvinenko and the refusal of Russia to extradite the suspect Lougovoy;
- US vice-president Dick Cheney's harsh criticism of Putin's visit to Iran;
- the closure of the British Council offices in Russia;
- the acute situation around the independence of Kosovo;
- the intention by the US to situate an anti-missile system in Eastern Europe;
- the continuing expansion of NATO
Each of these has added to the debate about whether the cold war truly ended leading some to speculate that the increasingly hostile accusations between Russia and the West signal that the relationship has simply taken a new form.
• What are the predictions for this relationship as different leaders come to power in both Russia and the US?
• What does current Russian foreign policy stand for?
• How has the media coverage and rhetoric of these events changed? How dangerous is the tendency for the media to rely on stereotypes or clichs when covering certain political developments on the global stage?
• What are the roles and responsibilities of Western and Russian media in accurately portraying what could become a new "cold war"?
Chair:
Riz Khan, Broadcaster, TV host, Al Jazeera International, USA
Riz Khan, Broadcaster, TV host, Al Jazeera International, USA
Speakers:
Zbigniew Brzezinski, former United States National Security Advisor
Mark Perrin de Brichambaut, Secretary General, OSCE, Austria
Mark MacKinnon, Middle East bureau chief for the “Globe and Mail” and author of “The New Cold War: Revolutions, Rigged Elections and Pipeline Politics in the Former Soviet Union”, Canada
Yuri Mamchur, Director of Discovery Institute's Real Russia Project and author of Russia Blog's "10 Western Media Stereotypes About Russia: How Truthful Are They?"
Mikhail Leontiyev, Anchorman of the "Odnako" author’s programme, Channel 1; Editor-in-Chief of “Profile” magazine, Russia
Maxim Sokolov, Political correspondent of “Izvestiya” newspaper, Russia
Gleb Pavlovskiy, President of the Effective Policy Foundation, Russia
Tugay Tuncer, NATO Liaison Officer for Central Asia
Zbigniew Brzezinski, former United States National Security Advisor
Mark Perrin de Brichambaut, Secretary General, OSCE, Austria
Mark MacKinnon, Middle East bureau chief for the “Globe and Mail” and author of “The New Cold War: Revolutions, Rigged Elections and Pipeline Politics in the Former Soviet Union”, Canada
Yuri Mamchur, Director of Discovery Institute's Real Russia Project and author of Russia Blog's "10 Western Media Stereotypes About Russia: How Truthful Are They?"
Mikhail Leontiyev, Anchorman of the "Odnako" author’s programme, Channel 1; Editor-in-Chief of “Profile” magazine, Russia
Maxim Sokolov, Political correspondent of “Izvestiya” newspaper, Russia
Gleb Pavlovskiy, President of the Effective Policy Foundation, Russia
Tugay Tuncer, NATO Liaison Officer for Central Asia
12.00-12.30: Coffee break (sponsored by Russia Today)
12.30-14.00: Session #2 (Ballroom)
ENCOURAGING SEPARATISM AND THE RIGHT FOR SELF-IDENTIFICATION? WHAT IS UNIQUE, IF ANYTHING ABOUT THE SITUATION IN KOSOVO?
The Republic of Kosova declared itself independent of Serbia in February creating the world's newest country. This has not been received with universal acceptance with several countries refusing to recognize it - unsurprisingly, mainly countries that have most to lose from emboldened secessionist movements, such as Russia, Spain and Greece. It is argued that this declaration of independence will set an unwelcome precedent and despite the legal gymnastics used to override UN security council resolution 1244 - which kept Kosovo in Serbia - the proclamation of the new state will have incalculable long-term consequences on secessionist movements from Belgium to the Black Sea via Bosnia and on relations between the US, EU and China and Russia.
The Republic of Kosova declared itself independent of Serbia in February creating the world's newest country. This has not been received with universal acceptance with several countries refusing to recognize it - unsurprisingly, mainly countries that have most to lose from emboldened secessionist movements, such as Russia, Spain and Greece. It is argued that this declaration of independence will set an unwelcome precedent and despite the legal gymnastics used to override UN security council resolution 1244 - which kept Kosovo in Serbia - the proclamation of the new state will have incalculable long-term consequences on secessionist movements from Belgium to the Black Sea via Bosnia and on relations between the US, EU and China and Russia.
In this session we will discuss the impact of formation of the Republic of Kosova in terms of the likely consequences in the Balkans and the wider ramifications for other unrecognized states? What is the UN’s role in this process and does the situation surrounding the independence of Kosovo provide further evidence of a deepening political and legal crisis within international law?
Chair:
Kevin Owen, Presenter, Russia Today TV
Kevin Owen, Presenter, Russia Today TV
Speakers:
Veran Matic, President of Board of Directors & Chief Executive Officer, Broadcasting Company B92, Serbia
Eugen Saraini, News Director and Member of the Board of Directors, RTV21, Kosovo
Sergey Markedonov, Head of Division of Ethnic Relations, Institute of Political and Military Analysis, Russia
Alexander Iskandaryan, Political expert, Director, Caucasus Media Institute, Armenia
Elkhan Nuriyev, Director, Centre for Strategic Studies under the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan
Lev Dzugayev, Assistant to the Head of the Russian Federal Press and Mass Communications Agency, former Deputy Head of Administration and Head of Press Service of the President of North Ossetia-Alania Republic
Nenad Pejic, Associate Director of Broadcasting, Radio Free Europe, Czech Republic
Klaas Van Der Tempel, Ambassador of the Netherlands to Kazakhstan, NATO Contact Point Ambassador
Veran Matic, President of Board of Directors & Chief Executive Officer, Broadcasting Company B92, Serbia
Eugen Saraini, News Director and Member of the Board of Directors, RTV21, Kosovo
Sergey Markedonov, Head of Division of Ethnic Relations, Institute of Political and Military Analysis, Russia
Alexander Iskandaryan, Political expert, Director, Caucasus Media Institute, Armenia
Elkhan Nuriyev, Director, Centre for Strategic Studies under the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan
Lev Dzugayev, Assistant to the Head of the Russian Federal Press and Mass Communications Agency, former Deputy Head of Administration and Head of Press Service of the President of North Ossetia-Alania Republic
Nenad Pejic, Associate Director of Broadcasting, Radio Free Europe, Czech Republic
Klaas Van Der Tempel, Ambassador of the Netherlands to Kazakhstan, NATO Contact Point Ambassador
Front row:
Mikhail Leontiyev, Anchorman of the "Odnako" author’s programme, Channel 1; Editor-in-Chief of “Profile” magazine, Russia
Mikhail Leontiyev, Anchorman of the "Odnako" author’s programme, Channel 1; Editor-in-Chief of “Profile” magazine, Russia
14.00-15.30: Lunch (Almaty, Astana restaurants, “C” floor)
15.30-17.30: Session #3 (Ballroom)
ELECTION PROCESSES AND THE MEDIA
Over the last 12 months elections in various parts of the world have made headline news for the wrong reasons. The assassination of the former Pakistani Prime-Minister Benazir Bhutto on the eve of the parliamentary elections heightened tensions in Pakistan and across the Middle East. The elections in Kenya also resulted in violence and the re-emergence of tribal tensions. The legitimacy of the electoral process, the role of the media and the involvement of electoral monitoring bodies have all been under scrutiny as elections created turmoil and controversy.
In this two part session we hear about the monitoring bodies and the media’s involvement in the election processes:
• Do international bodies charged with monitoring the "fairness" of elections help promote democracy, or do they instead legitimize one political agenda over another? What responsibility, credibility and authority do electoral monitoring bodies hold? Is their role as guardians of the democratic process justified and accepted?
• Some elections are deemed "unacceptable," while those in more established democracies are beyond dispute. Are these characterizations justified? Or are they simply a way for the global powers to undermine election results that they don't like?
• What is objective election reporting? And when does coverage reflect political bias? Does the media help or hinder the electoral processes with such things as exit polls?
• Are legal limits on the activities of journalists during election times justified or necessary?
Over the last 12 months elections in various parts of the world have made headline news for the wrong reasons. The assassination of the former Pakistani Prime-Minister Benazir Bhutto on the eve of the parliamentary elections heightened tensions in Pakistan and across the Middle East. The elections in Kenya also resulted in violence and the re-emergence of tribal tensions. The legitimacy of the electoral process, the role of the media and the involvement of electoral monitoring bodies have all been under scrutiny as elections created turmoil and controversy.
In this two part session we hear about the monitoring bodies and the media’s involvement in the election processes:
• Do international bodies charged with monitoring the "fairness" of elections help promote democracy, or do they instead legitimize one political agenda over another? What responsibility, credibility and authority do electoral monitoring bodies hold? Is their role as guardians of the democratic process justified and accepted?
• Some elections are deemed "unacceptable," while those in more established democracies are beyond dispute. Are these characterizations justified? Or are they simply a way for the global powers to undermine election results that they don't like?
• What is objective election reporting? And when does coverage reflect political bias? Does the media help or hinder the electoral processes with such things as exit polls?
• Are legal limits on the activities of journalists during election times justified or necessary?
PART II - ELECTION PROCESSES AND THE MEDIA – US FOCUS
In the second part of this session we focus on the role of the media in what is the world’s most important democratic process. The US election is a long, complicated and expensive affair in which the media play a fundamental role. In this session we examine this process and the pros and cons in terms of providing legitimacy of the democratic process and a truly mandated president. In what is perhaps the most scrutinized of elections when does the media cross the line between election reporting and electioneering and does this matter?
In the second part of this session we focus on the role of the media in what is the world’s most important democratic process. The US election is a long, complicated and expensive affair in which the media play a fundamental role. In this session we examine this process and the pros and cons in terms of providing legitimacy of the democratic process and a truly mandated president. In what is perhaps the most scrutinized of elections when does the media cross the line between election reporting and electioneering and does this matter?
Chair:
Charles Hodson, Business Anchor, Cable News Network, United Kingdom
Charles Hodson, Business Anchor, Cable News Network, United Kingdom
Speakers:
Julie Finley, Ambassador of the USA to OSCE, Austria
Vitaliy Tretyakov, Editor-in-chief of “Moskovskie novosti” newspaper, Russia
Hameed Haroon, CEO and Publisher, Pakistan Herald Publications, Pakistan
Rahimullah Yusufzai, Resident Editor, "The News International", Pakistan
Julie Finley, Ambassador of the USA to OSCE, Austria
Vitaliy Tretyakov, Editor-in-chief of “Moskovskie novosti” newspaper, Russia
Hameed Haroon, CEO and Publisher, Pakistan Herald Publications, Pakistan
Rahimullah Yusufzai, Resident Editor, "The News International", Pakistan
Zbigniew Brzezinski, former United States National Security Advisor
Dr. Ariel Cohen, Senior research fellow, Russian and Eurasian Studies, the Heritage Foundation, USA
Danny Schechter, Vice President and Executive Producer, MediaChannel.org, USA
Yuri Sigov, US Bureau Chief of “Business People” magazine in Washington DC, USA
Markus Rettich, Head of Political Analysis, Media Tenor International, Germany
Dr. Ariel Cohen, Senior research fellow, Russian and Eurasian Studies, the Heritage Foundation, USA
Danny Schechter, Vice President and Executive Producer, MediaChannel.org, USA
Yuri Sigov, US Bureau Chief of “Business People” magazine in Washington DC, USA
Markus Rettich, Head of Political Analysis, Media Tenor International, Germany
15.00-16.00: Roundtable (Ablai Khan room)
INSTABILITY IN THE WORLD FINANCIAL SYSTEM
Increasingly, the world economies are integrated. The continuing sub-prime mortgage crisis in the US epitomizes this growing interdependence. What are the consequences of this and other world financial crises for the global economy in general, and for Kazakhstan’s economy in particular? Under what circumstances can the financial media negatively affect the unfolding of economic events? Should there be mechanisms for businesses and the international financial media to cooperate to keep financial situations from spiraling out of control?
Increasingly, the world economies are integrated. The continuing sub-prime mortgage crisis in the US epitomizes this growing interdependence. What are the consequences of this and other world financial crises for the global economy in general, and for Kazakhstan’s economy in particular? Under what circumstances can the financial media negatively affect the unfolding of economic events? Should there be mechanisms for businesses and the international financial media to cooperate to keep financial situations from spiraling out of control?
Chair:
William Green, EMEA Editor, TIME Magazine
William Green, EMEA Editor, TIME Magazine
Speakers:
Grigoriy Marchenko, Chairman of the Board, “Narodnyi Bank,” Kazakhstan
Victor Pleskachevskiy, Chairman of the Property Committee, State Duma, Russia
Gulzhana Karagusova, Chair of the Finance and Budget Committee, Mazhilis of the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan
Andre Kuusvek, Country Director for Kazakhstan, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development
Isabel Gorst, Caspian and Central Asia correspondent, Financial Times, UK
Grigoriy Marchenko, Chairman of the Board, “Narodnyi Bank,” Kazakhstan
Victor Pleskachevskiy, Chairman of the Property Committee, State Duma, Russia
Gulzhana Karagusova, Chair of the Finance and Budget Committee, Mazhilis of the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan
Andre Kuusvek, Country Director for Kazakhstan, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development
Isabel Gorst, Caspian and Central Asia correspondent, Financial Times, UK
16.30-17.30: Roundtable (Ablai Khan room)
“FROZEN CONFLICTS” IN TODAY’S WORLD
with participation of representatives of international foundations
with participation of representatives of international foundations
It is now estimated that there are approximately 200 frozen conflicts around the world, i.e. regions in dispute where political and military stalemate exists between the conflicting parties. Of these 200 it is estimated that around 50 are reaching or near to reaching their culmination. Each of these situations offers a different set of circumstances and challenges. Given the continuing disagreements on key principles of international law regarding territorial integrity and the right of self-determination – a way to resolve these frozen conflicts has never been more important.
Producers: The Foundation of the First President of the Republic of Kazakhstan,
International Institute for Modern Policy, Kazakhstan
International Institute for Modern Policy, Kazakhstan
Chair:
Bektas Mukhamedzhanov, Executive Director of the Foundation of the First President of the Republic of Kazakhstan
Bektas Mukhamedzhanov, Executive Director of the Foundation of the First President of the Republic of Kazakhstan
Speakers:
Kirill Tanayev, General Director, Effective Policy Foundation, Russia
Maxim Meyer, CIS Programme Director of the “Russkiy Mir” Foundation, Russia
Dr Martha Brill Olcott, Senior Associate, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, USA
Vladimir Mantussov, Advisor to the Executive Director of the Boris Eltsin Foundation, Russia
Elvira Pak, Head of Cooperation Bureau, Fridriech Ebert Foundation, Kazakhstan
Metehan Demir, Ankara Bureau Chief, HURRIYET Daily Newspaper’s internet version, Turkey
Mariya Valovalya, Director, Eurasian Centre for Strategic Studies, Russia
Kirill Tanayev, General Director, Effective Policy Foundation, Russia
Maxim Meyer, CIS Programme Director of the “Russkiy Mir” Foundation, Russia
Dr Martha Brill Olcott, Senior Associate, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, USA
Vladimir Mantussov, Advisor to the Executive Director of the Boris Eltsin Foundation, Russia
Elvira Pak, Head of Cooperation Bureau, Fridriech Ebert Foundation, Kazakhstan
Metehan Demir, Ankara Bureau Chief, HURRIYET Daily Newspaper’s internet version, Turkey
Mariya Valovalya, Director, Eurasian Centre for Strategic Studies, Russia
19.00-21.00: Welcome Reception hosted by the Almaty City Mayor and International Herald Tribune Newspaper
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