EAST-WEST ISSUES UNDER SPOTLIGHT IN KAZAKHSTAN

    Almaty, Kazakhstan, January 2008 – Kazakhstan will host the 7th Eurasian Media Forum in Almaty on April 24-25, a dynamic annual exchange of ideas between politicians and journalists from East and West.

    The agenda will cover the most topical news points of the day and how they are covered by the media around the world, with emphasis on the strategic role of Central Asia at the heart of Eurasia.  

    Issues under review will include the international impact of crucial election campaigns in Russia and the United States, the state of relations between Russia and the West, regional tensions, economic challenges, nuclear politics and climate change.

    Several hundred delegates representing governments, corporations, academia and the media are again expected to gather for the three-day event, which will be chaired by television presenter Riz Khan of Al Jazeera International.

    The Eurasian Media Forum (EAMF) was founded in 2001 as a non-political institution inspired by the concept of Eurasia as a bridge between East and West.  Its primary purpose is to provide a platform for examining East-West issues, with the active involvement of newsmakers, reporters and commentators. 

    The annual conferences have all been held in Almaty, the commercial hub of Central Asia and a modern symbol of the ancient Silk Road from China to Europe.