- Caspian Media Forum begins in Astrakhan city of Russia to promote mutual understanding and cooperation between the diverse cultures of the Caspian region
- Delegations, journalists, authorities, scientists and political scientists, media specialists, and leaders of public organisations the 9th Caspian Media Forum in Russia
- Respect for the diversity of cultures and civilisations is vital for peace: Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov
- Caspian Media Forum will become a good place for media interaction and a point of unity for the peoples of the Caspian Sea: Governor of Astrakhan
By: Muhammad Arif, Editor NSN.Asia
Astrakhan/Russia: The 9th Caspian Media Forum, with the theme of “Dialogue of Cultures as the Basis for Caspian Development”, began at the Astrakhan State Opera and Ballet Theatre in Astrakhan city of Russian on Friday.
Forum aims to build a cohesive media landscape, contribute to tackling disinformation, as well as promote mutual understanding and cooperation between the diverse cultures of the region, by developing a platform for constructive dialogue.
The 2024 edition of Caspian Media Forum is being attended by various delegations and representatives of the journalistic community, authorities, scientists and political scientists, media specialists, experts and leaders of public organisations from Azerbaijan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Belarus, Uzbekistan, and others.
The forum presents diverse media events includes plenary sessions and discussions, during which such topics as the development of digital technologies in art and media, new life of traditional art and cinema as a universal language of communication, as well as examples of cultural and historical unity in the Eurasian space will be discussed.
The forum is being organized in cooperation with The Government of the Astrakhan region, the Aministrative Directorate of the President of Russia, the Ministry of Digital Development, Connections, and Mass Communications of Russia, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia, the Ministry of Culture of Russia, with the support of the Interstate Fund for Humanitarian Cooperation of the CIS Member States, the Eurasian Peoples’ Assembly, the Centre for International and Socio-Political Research, and the North-South Political Science Centre
Highlighting the significance of forum, Natig Mammadli, Deputy Executive Director of the Media Development Agency of Azerbaijani, said “the f Caspian Media Forum holds vital significance with respect to building cultural bridges between the peoples and discussing future media cooperation”.
He also pointed out the impact of the artificial intelligence in disseminating disinformation in the digital era, highlighting an important role of the 2nd Shusha Media Forum themed “Exposing False Narratives: Combating Disinformation” in terms of discussing effective methods of fighting the relevant challenge and bolstering international cooperation.
Lauding the role and hospitality of the organisers towards participants of the Caspian Media Forum 2024 in Astrakhan, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said:
“The forum’s topic, Dialogue of Cultures as the Basis for the Development of the Caspian Region, is very relevant. I believe that the inter-cultural communication between five littoral states will promote the emergence of a single humanitarian Caspian space and fruitful contacts between artists, scientists and public figures’ he added.
“Russia has been consistently supporting the creation of a multipolar world order based on the diversity of cultures and civilisations, and respect for the right of sovereign states to choose their development models. We have also been countering attempts at politicisation of culture, arts and humanities”, stated Sergey Lavrov’s.
He also added by saying “I am sure that the Caspian Seasons international festival of classical art will also epitomize close relations between the countries of the Caspian region”.
“The participants will share working tools and mechanisms to improve the quality and promote the dialogue of cultures. I am sure that today’s platform will become a good place for media interaction and a point of unity for the peoples of the Caspian Sea,” said Igor Babushkin Governor of Astrakhan Oblast, Deputy Minister of Digital Development, Communications and Mass Media of Russia while emphasizing the role dialogue for cultural connectivity and respect for diversity.
Iranian delegation represented by Iranian Ambassador to Russia Kazem Jalali, Consul General of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Kazan Davoud Mirzakhani, Head of the General Directorate of Information of the Ministry of Culture of Iran Abbas Mohammadian, as well as TV BRICS International Media Network’s partner IRNA News Agency represented by Hossein Abolghasemi, Editor-in-Chief of International Information, and Zaman Rezakhani, Director for International Relations.
