Day 2
DAY 2 Friday, April 25
09.00-10.30: Session #4 (Ballroom)
THE MEDIA'S ROLE IN BILINGUAL AND MULTICULTURAL SOCIETIES
Over the past few decades, many countries have had to address issues raised by populations that speak a different language to the majority. It is a long held view that in stable democracies these issues have been successfully resolved and are an integral part of the social life. However, there are now many examples of where cultural tensions surface. In the Netherlands for example, the distribution on the Internet of the controversial anti-Islamic film “Fitna” by Dutch politician Geert Wilders provoked condemnation both inside and outside the country. Similarly, the situation in Belgium, where the tensions between the Dutch-speaking Flemish and the French-speaking Walloons has led to division and potentially, the disintegration of the country, demonstrate that the problems of multi-cultural and multi-lingual societies still exist.
Over the past few decades, many countries have had to address issues raised by populations that speak a different language to the majority. It is a long held view that in stable democracies these issues have been successfully resolved and are an integral part of the social life. However, there are now many examples of where cultural tensions surface. In the Netherlands for example, the distribution on the Internet of the controversial anti-Islamic film “Fitna” by Dutch politician Geert Wilders provoked condemnation both inside and outside the country. Similarly, the situation in Belgium, where the tensions between the Dutch-speaking Flemish and the French-speaking Walloons has led to division and potentially, the disintegration of the country, demonstrate that the problems of multi-cultural and multi-lingual societies still exist.
The mass media undoubtedly play an important role in this process. The media can either facilitate the coming together of diverse populations or increasingly fracture their audiences of different language.
• What experience do governments have implementing policies that let different cultures and languages coexist peacefully?
• How do the international media address issues of bilingual and multilingual audiences?
• What is the role of Kazakhstani journalists in integrating the 100+ nationalities of Kazakhstan, many of which speak their own language? What is the problem of bilingualism in Kazakhstani journalism? What are the reality and its development prospects?
• Does the media have a responsibility to help facilitate a dialogue between audiences with different cultures, religions, and languages?
Chair:
Alexander Arkhangelskiy, Author and TV host, “Tem vremenem (In the Meantime)” programme, “Culture” TV channel, Russia
• What experience do governments have implementing policies that let different cultures and languages coexist peacefully?
• How do the international media address issues of bilingual and multilingual audiences?
• What is the role of Kazakhstani journalists in integrating the 100+ nationalities of Kazakhstan, many of which speak their own language? What is the problem of bilingualism in Kazakhstani journalism? What are the reality and its development prospects?
• Does the media have a responsibility to help facilitate a dialogue between audiences with different cultures, religions, and languages?
Chair:
Alexander Arkhangelskiy, Author and TV host, “Tem vremenem (In the Meantime)” programme, “Culture” TV channel, Russia
Speakers:
Nenad Pejic, Associate Director of Broadcasting, Radio Free Europe, Czech Republic
Minelle Mahtani, Assistant Professor at University of Toronto, former journalist, Canada
Yermukhamet Yertysbayev, Minister of Culture and Information of the Republic of Kazakhstan
Didar Amantai, Chief Editor, “Nachnem s ponedelnika” newspaper, Kazakhstan
Yuri Kirinitsiyanov, Correspondent of “Rossiyskaya Gazeta” in Kazakhstan
Erlan Idrissov, Ambassador of the Republic of Kazakhstan in the USA
Dr. Abdullah, Foreign Minister of Afghanistan (1998-2004), Afghanistan
Nenad Pejic, Associate Director of Broadcasting, Radio Free Europe, Czech Republic
Minelle Mahtani, Assistant Professor at University of Toronto, former journalist, Canada
Yermukhamet Yertysbayev, Minister of Culture and Information of the Republic of Kazakhstan
Didar Amantai, Chief Editor, “Nachnem s ponedelnika” newspaper, Kazakhstan
Yuri Kirinitsiyanov, Correspondent of “Rossiyskaya Gazeta” in Kazakhstan
Erlan Idrissov, Ambassador of the Republic of Kazakhstan in the USA
Dr. Abdullah, Foreign Minister of Afghanistan (1998-2004), Afghanistan
Front row:
Metehan Demir, Ankara Bureau Chief, HURRIYET Daily Newspaper’s internet version, Turkey
Valeriy Ruzin, First Vice-president, Eurasian Academy of Television and Radio, Russia
Metehan Demir, Ankara Bureau Chief, HURRIYET Daily Newspaper’s internet version, Turkey
Valeriy Ruzin, First Vice-president, Eurasian Academy of Television and Radio, Russia
10.30-11.00: Coffee break (sponsored by Russia Today)
11.00-12.30: Session #5 (Ballroom)
THE GROUP PORTRAIT OF CIS COUNTRIES. WHO ARE THE LEADERS IN THE POST-SOVIET SPACE?
Countries of the post-Soviet space, banded together under the collective CIS acronym, are by no means uniform and have many significant differences.
Even at first sight it is clear that the different states among the former Soviet Union republics have formed distinctive characteristics.
Countries of the post-Soviet space, banded together under the collective CIS acronym, are by no means uniform and have many significant differences.
Even at first sight it is clear that the different states among the former Soviet Union republics have formed distinctive characteristics.
One group, including the Baltic states, has smoothly moved to a stable environment within the EU.
Another group of states comprising Tajikistan, Armenia, Moldova and Kyrgyzstan, are unable to rely on significant natural resources, and are characterised by what some have called “sustainable instability”, the countries whose political regimes have been modified slightly or if opposition is to be believed, not at all.
Another grouping includes Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Belarus and Azerbaijan where administrative pressure provides relative public stability, and social processes have been forced underground to develop unseen. These are countries where political regimes have been modified inconsiderably or even exist without any modification.
Finally, and perhaps the most significant group includes two pairs: Russia-Kazakhstan and Georgia-Ukraine. Inside these pairs there is a certain similarity. The first comprises countries rich in oil and gas, ensuring the economic growth and moderately modified autocracy while maintaining relative public stability. The second comprises countries not rich in natural resources, experiencing overt “westernisation” of the political system, relying upon the “democracy of electors”, but with some political recurrences tending to destabilise public life. In this session we discuss what the future holds for the developments of the various groupings of CIS countries.
Another group of states comprising Tajikistan, Armenia, Moldova and Kyrgyzstan, are unable to rely on significant natural resources, and are characterised by what some have called “sustainable instability”, the countries whose political regimes have been modified slightly or if opposition is to be believed, not at all.
Another grouping includes Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Belarus and Azerbaijan where administrative pressure provides relative public stability, and social processes have been forced underground to develop unseen. These are countries where political regimes have been modified inconsiderably or even exist without any modification.
Finally, and perhaps the most significant group includes two pairs: Russia-Kazakhstan and Georgia-Ukraine. Inside these pairs there is a certain similarity. The first comprises countries rich in oil and gas, ensuring the economic growth and moderately modified autocracy while maintaining relative public stability. The second comprises countries not rich in natural resources, experiencing overt “westernisation” of the political system, relying upon the “democracy of electors”, but with some political recurrences tending to destabilise public life. In this session we discuss what the future holds for the developments of the various groupings of CIS countries.
Co-Chairs:
Dr Martha Brill Olcott, Senior Associate, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, USA
Erlan Idrissov, Ambassador of the Republic of Kazakhstan in the USA
Dr Martha Brill Olcott, Senior Associate, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, USA
Erlan Idrissov, Ambassador of the Republic of Kazakhstan in the USA
Speakers:
Bermet Akayeva, Political analyst, Advisor to the chief editor, “Political class” magazine, Russia
Mikhail Gusman, Deputy Director General, ITAR-TASS news agency, Author and Host of “Formula Vlasti (the formula of power) programme, Russia
Saodat Olimovа, Head of the Sociology Center at the Information and Analytical Centre "Sharq", Tajikistan
Marat Tazhin, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan
Yuri Shevtsov, Director of the Center of European Integration, Publisher and editor of the “Geopolitics” and “Chernobyl” portals, Belarus
Vitaliy Volkov, Editor, “Deutsche Welle”, Germany
Bermet Akayeva, Political analyst, Advisor to the chief editor, “Political class” magazine, Russia
Mikhail Gusman, Deputy Director General, ITAR-TASS news agency, Author and Host of “Formula Vlasti (the formula of power) programme, Russia
Saodat Olimovа, Head of the Sociology Center at the Information and Analytical Centre "Sharq", Tajikistan
Marat Tazhin, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan
Yuri Shevtsov, Director of the Center of European Integration, Publisher and editor of the “Geopolitics” and “Chernobyl” portals, Belarus
Vitaliy Volkov, Editor, “Deutsche Welle”, Germany
Front row:
Elkhan Nuriyev, Director, Centre for Strategic Studies under the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan
Bulat Sultanov, Director of the Kazakhstan Institute of Strategic Studies under the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan
Radik Batyrshin, President, “Mir” Intergovernmental TV and Radio Company, Russia
11.30-13.00: Roundtable (Ablai Khan room)
Elkhan Nuriyev, Director, Centre for Strategic Studies under the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan
Bulat Sultanov, Director of the Kazakhstan Institute of Strategic Studies under the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan
Radik Batyrshin, President, “Mir” Intergovernmental TV and Radio Company, Russia
11.30-13.00: Roundtable (Ablai Khan room)
CHALLENGES CONFRONTING REGIONAL JOURNALISTS
Many media watchdogs complain that regional journalists have lost their individual voices by imitating national entertainment programs or relying on American standbys. How are regional journalists trained? Do professional qualifications tend to eradicate individuality and promote a standardized approach to coverage? Is the need to capture advertising dollars changing the way news is reported and disseminated? And should regional journalists strive to protect the local flavor of their news coverage? Journalism professors, media trainers, and other experts will comment on the trend to commodify news, addressing what can be done to bring a diversity of opinion to global audiences.
Many media watchdogs complain that regional journalists have lost their individual voices by imitating national entertainment programs or relying on American standbys. How are regional journalists trained? Do professional qualifications tend to eradicate individuality and promote a standardized approach to coverage? Is the need to capture advertising dollars changing the way news is reported and disseminated? And should regional journalists strive to protect the local flavor of their news coverage? Journalism professors, media trainers, and other experts will comment on the trend to commodify news, addressing what can be done to bring a diversity of opinion to global audiences.
Chair:
Wilfried Ruetten, Director, European Journalism Centre, the Netherlands
Wilfried Ruetten, Director, European Journalism Centre, the Netherlands
Speakers:
Peter Sauer, Head of the Current News Department, Bavarian Broadcasting, Germany
Ioana Avadani, Executive director, Center for Independent Journalism, Bucharest
Kumar Bekbolotov, Media trainer, Central Asia Programmes Director, IWPR, Kyrgyzstan
Ernest Bujok, Manager, Concentra Media, Belgium
Natalya Bandrovskaya, Director of “Rika TV” Television Company, Kazakhstan
Sergey Kharchenko, Chief Editor of “Kostanaiskie Novosti” newspaper, Kazakhstan
Gulnara Ibrayeva, Head of Apparatus, National TV and Radio Corporation of Kyrgyzstan
Peter Sauer, Head of the Current News Department, Bavarian Broadcasting, Germany
Ioana Avadani, Executive director, Center for Independent Journalism, Bucharest
Kumar Bekbolotov, Media trainer, Central Asia Programmes Director, IWPR, Kyrgyzstan
Ernest Bujok, Manager, Concentra Media, Belgium
Natalya Bandrovskaya, Director of “Rika TV” Television Company, Kazakhstan
Sergey Kharchenko, Chief Editor of “Kostanaiskie Novosti” newspaper, Kazakhstan
Gulnara Ibrayeva, Head of Apparatus, National TV and Radio Corporation of Kyrgyzstan
12.30-14.00: Lunch (Almaty, Astana restaurants, “C” floor)
14.00-15.15: Session #6 (Ballroom)
BRAND PERSONALITIES AND FREE USERS: A REAL CONFLICT IN THE UNREAL WORLD - PROTECTION OF INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS AND PERSONALITY IN THE INTERNET
Copyright and the right to intellectual property are extremely topical issues. The concepts of “authorship” and “intellect” are significant but vague while the technical difficulties faced in attempting to protect what is hard to define, combined with the challenges presented by the Internet, necessarily requires a new approach to intellectual property regimen.
The Internet makes it possible not only to express yourself anonymously but also act under false image and false name. This in turn gives rise to the potential arbitrary use of the names and reputations of socially important persons.
In this session we discuss how to protect an individual’s rights to intellectual property and personal authorship on the Internet?
Copyright and the right to intellectual property are extremely topical issues. The concepts of “authorship” and “intellect” are significant but vague while the technical difficulties faced in attempting to protect what is hard to define, combined with the challenges presented by the Internet, necessarily requires a new approach to intellectual property regimen.
The Internet makes it possible not only to express yourself anonymously but also act under false image and false name. This in turn gives rise to the potential arbitrary use of the names and reputations of socially important persons.
In this session we discuss how to protect an individual’s rights to intellectual property and personal authorship on the Internet?
Producer: RIA Novosti News Agency, "Astana in the ‘Second Life’ virtual world" project
Chairs: Maxim Shevchenko, Author and host of “Judge by Yourselves” political talk show, Channel 1, Russia
Marina Lesko, Journalist, Russia
Marina Lesko, Journalist, Russia
Speakers:
Real format:
Mikhail Leontiyev, Anchorman of the "Odnako" author’s programme, Channel 1, Editor-in-Chief of “Profile” magazine, Russia
Bermet Akayeva, Political analyst, Advisor to the chief editor, “Political class” magazine, Russia
Thierry Meyssan, President, Voltaire Network, Political analyst and writer, France
Ivan Bliznets, Rector of the Russian State Institute of Intellectual Property
Saule Tlevlessova, Program Officer, Division for Certain Countries in Europe and Asia, World Intellectual Property Organization
Vartan Toganyan, President, Eurasian media group, Russia
Alexander Arkhangelskiy, Author and TV host, “Tem vremenem (In the Meantime)” programme, “Culture” TV channel, Russia
Nurgaisha Sakhipova, Deputy Chair of the Committee on Intellectual Property Rights, Ministry of Justice of Kazakhstan
Mikhail Leontiyev, Anchorman of the "Odnako" author’s programme, Channel 1, Editor-in-Chief of “Profile” magazine, Russia
Bermet Akayeva, Political analyst, Advisor to the chief editor, “Political class” magazine, Russia
Thierry Meyssan, President, Voltaire Network, Political analyst and writer, France
Ivan Bliznets, Rector of the Russian State Institute of Intellectual Property
Saule Tlevlessova, Program Officer, Division for Certain Countries in Europe and Asia, World Intellectual Property Organization
Vartan Toganyan, President, Eurasian media group, Russia
Alexander Arkhangelskiy, Author and TV host, “Tem vremenem (In the Meantime)” programme, “Culture” TV channel, Russia
Nurgaisha Sakhipova, Deputy Chair of the Committee on Intellectual Property Rights, Ministry of Justice of Kazakhstan
Virtual format:
Dmitriy Bykov, Author, winner of the Booker Prize, Russia
Mikhail Fedotov, Secretary of the Union of Journalists of Russia
Alena Sviridova, Author and performer of popular songs, Russia
Maxim Sukhanov, Theatre and film actor, Russia
Linda Nigmatulina, Film actress, Russia
Dmitriy Bykov, Author, winner of the Booker Prize, Russia
Mikhail Fedotov, Secretary of the Union of Journalists of Russia
Alena Sviridova, Author and performer of popular songs, Russia
Maxim Sukhanov, Theatre and film actor, Russia
Linda Nigmatulina, Film actress, Russia
Front row:
Geydar Dzhemal, Chairman of the Islamic Committee of Russia
Erzhan Issabayev, General director, "Tengri Saatchi & Saatchi", Kazakhstan
Geydar Dzhemal, Chairman of the Islamic Committee of Russia
Erzhan Issabayev, General director, "Tengri Saatchi & Saatchi", Kazakhstan
15.15-16.15: Session #7 (Ballroom)
CHINA UNDER THE SPOTLIGHT
As the rat becomes the pig, this is the year that defines China’s future. In this session we examine some of the current issues that will shape China in 2008 and discuss the consequences for the rest of the world this year and beyond.
• As the Olympics approaches the world focuses more and more on Beijing. How will the rest of the world assess the global implications of this regional economic powerhouse? Is it a threat or an opportunity for Europe?
• What does the sustainable development of China involve?
• China is an evident contradiction by itself: it remains a communist state with developed bureaucratic apparatus and limited human rights; however, its booming economy is developing according to the market economy mechanisms and becoming one of the leading in the world. How can this be explained? Is this a "special way" of development?
• How shall we examine the motivations of China and Russia in establishing the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and why are Iran, India and Pakistan interested in the membership of the Central Asian club?
• How shall we look at the most complex and most important bilateral ties between the US and the PRC in the new century?
As the rat becomes the pig, this is the year that defines China’s future. In this session we examine some of the current issues that will shape China in 2008 and discuss the consequences for the rest of the world this year and beyond.
• As the Olympics approaches the world focuses more and more on Beijing. How will the rest of the world assess the global implications of this regional economic powerhouse? Is it a threat or an opportunity for Europe?
• What does the sustainable development of China involve?
• China is an evident contradiction by itself: it remains a communist state with developed bureaucratic apparatus and limited human rights; however, its booming economy is developing according to the market economy mechanisms and becoming one of the leading in the world. How can this be explained? Is this a "special way" of development?
• How shall we examine the motivations of China and Russia in establishing the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and why are Iran, India and Pakistan interested in the membership of the Central Asian club?
• How shall we look at the most complex and most important bilateral ties between the US and the PRC in the new century?
Chair: Yang Rui, Anchor, daily Dialogue programme, CCTV 9, China
Speakers:
Victor Gao, Director of the National Association of International Studies (CNAIS), China
Jisi Wang, Dean, School of International Studies, Peking University, China
Geydar Dzhemal, Chairman of the Islamic Committee of Russia
Dr. Ariel Cohen, Senior research fellow, Russian and Eurasian Studies, the Heritage Foundation, USA
Victor Gao, Director of the National Association of International Studies (CNAIS), China
Jisi Wang, Dean, School of International Studies, Peking University, China
Geydar Dzhemal, Chairman of the Islamic Committee of Russia
Dr. Ariel Cohen, Senior research fellow, Russian and Eurasian Studies, the Heritage Foundation, USA
16.15-16.45: Coffee break (sponsored by Russia Today)
16.45-18.00: Session #8 (Ballroom)
GLAMOUR IN POLITICS AND THE POLITICS OF GLAMOUR
Historically, politicians have limited their public life to certain stereotypical behaviours and styles. These days however, we are witnessing an emerging new era – an era of VIP politicians, who feel comfortable with glamorous behaviour where image-conscious TV appearances are the norm.
More than ever, it appears that what politicians say and do is becoming less important than how they appear.
Politics is becoming an environment where “stars” and “glamorous” heroes are the most important and popular figures.
Are politicians leading deliberately high-profile personal lives to appear more “bling” and have greater appeal to mass audiences? Is this phenomenon the new smart moves of a modern spin doctor hoping to use the mask of glamour to distract the public attention from real issues? Or is adding a touch of glamour to the intrinsically dull world of politics a legitimate way to engage and attract new audiences and voters?
Chair:
Vladimir Rerikh, Producer, journalist, Kazakhstan
Vladimir Rerikh, Producer, journalist, Kazakhstan
Speakers:
Geydar Dzhemal, Chairman of the Islamic Committee of Russia
Marina Lesko, Journalist, Russia
Thierry Meyssan, President, Voltaire Network, Political analyst and writer, France
Akram Khuzam, Roving reporter in the Middle East, Al Hurra channel, USA
Vivienne Walt, Foreign correspondent, Time magazine, France
Maxim Shevchenko, Author and host of “Judge by Yourselves” political talk show, Channel 1, Russia
Wilfried Ruetten, Director, European Journalism Centre, the Netherlands
Mikhail Leontiyev, Anchorman of the "Odnako" author’s programme, Channel 1; Editor-in-Chief of “Profile” magazine, Russia
Geydar Dzhemal, Chairman of the Islamic Committee of Russia
Marina Lesko, Journalist, Russia
Thierry Meyssan, President, Voltaire Network, Political analyst and writer, France
Akram Khuzam, Roving reporter in the Middle East, Al Hurra channel, USA
Vivienne Walt, Foreign correspondent, Time magazine, France
Maxim Shevchenko, Author and host of “Judge by Yourselves” political talk show, Channel 1, Russia
Wilfried Ruetten, Director, European Journalism Centre, the Netherlands
Mikhail Leontiyev, Anchorman of the "Odnako" author’s programme, Channel 1; Editor-in-Chief of “Profile” magazine, Russia
Front row:
Oleg Gostev, General producer of Kazakhstan fashion week, Kazakhstan
Gulnara Sarsenova, Director of “Eurasia film”, Kazakhstan
Oleg Gostev, General producer of Kazakhstan fashion week, Kazakhstan
Gulnara Sarsenova, Director of “Eurasia film”, Kazakhstan
18.00-18.15: CLOSING ADDRESS by Dr. Dariga Nazarbayeva, Chair of the Eurasian Media Forum Organizing Committee, Kazakhstan
19.30-24.00: Forum Gala Event hosted by CNN International and Khabar Agency
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