CONCLUSION

“A diversity of thoughts and ideas”

Summing up at the end of the conference, Dr. Dariga Nazarbayeva, founder of the Forum, paid tribute to the calibre of the speakers and the quality of the debate.

 “Where else can you find such a diversity of thoughts and ideas?” she asked.

 The conference had covered the most important issues in international relations.  It was a sad reflection of the state of the world that some topics – such as Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, nuclear threats – were repeat items from previous years.

 “Our agenda is dictated by reality,” she said.  “We cannot ignore these topics.”

 Dr. Nazarbayeva said she had noted a tendency by some delegates to put the blame for everything that was wrong in the world on the United States.  She expressed regrets to the US representatives for the anti-American feelings expressed at the conference. 

 “I applaud their bravery,” she said, adding that she was pleased that the conference had given the Americans a chance to express their views and defend their policies.

 One of the key messages of the Forum, she said, was the importance of the media in global affairs and the inter-dependence of the media and politics.

 “People complain about the media but they cannot live without us,” she said.

 Concluding on the subject of the previous session, the ‘glamorisation’ of the media, Dr. Nazarbayeva said glamour had its place in the media as a form of relaxation and a protection against the aggression of the real world.

 “Glamour is the golden dream of mankind,” she declared.  “Glamour is good!”