Expanded Media Session “Russia – The Islamic World: Media Cooperation for Sustainable Development and Economic Prosperity”

Organizers: The Union of OIC News Agencies (UNA), the Republican Agency for Press and Mass Communications “Tatmedia”.

Venue: International Exhibition Centre Kazan Expo, Kazan

Moderators:

Anna Belikova, Advisor to the Russia – the Islamic World Strategic Vision Group, Senior Lecturer at Moscow State University, MGIMO and Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration, Chief Specialist of the External Communications Service at RT;

Yunus Inayat, Director of International Relations and Strategic Development of the Union of OIC News Agencies.

Speakers:

Mohammed Al-Yami, Director General of the OIC Union of News Agencies;

Aidar Salimgarayev, Head of the Republican Agency for Press and Mass Communications “Tatmedia”;

Wajdi Sindi, Director of the Information Development Department of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation;

Farit Mukhametshin, Deputy Chairman of the Russia – the Islamic World Strategic Vision Group, Deputy Chair of the Federation Council Committee on Foreign Affairs;

Najeh Missaoui, CEO of Tunis Afrique Presse news agency;

Fatima Al Salem, Director General of the Kuwait News Agency (KUNA);

Timur Shafir, Executive Secretary / International Director of the Russian Union of Journalists;

Latifa El Bouabdellaoui, Director General of the Islamic Centre for the Development of Trade;

Satar Jiyad, Director General of the Iraqi News Agency;

Asya Samoilova, Head of the Media Department of the International Cooperation Directorate of “Russia Today”/Sputnik Media Group;

Mohammed Sedek Alawaji, Executive Editor of the Saudi Press Agency;

Maya Manna, Head of RT Arabic;

Raed Fakih, head of international bureaus and representative offices of Al Jazeera Media Network;

Erman Yuksel, World Languages Editor-in-Chief of Anadolu Agency, Turkey;

Dinara Toktosunova, CEO of Ruptly Video News Agency.

In today’s world, mass media is the driving force of sustainable development and international economic partnership. That’s why media cooperation or “media diplomacy” under current conditions is in no way inferior to the inter-state diplomacy; it can contribute to the weakening of the Western media monopoly, ensure equal access to information and combat the politicization of mass media. Russia is committed to the active dialogue with the Muslim countries to combat the common information threats.

The participants discussed cooperation between the mass media of Russia and the countries of the Islamic world, ongoing and prospective joint media projects, extra measures for the higher effectiveness of media cooperation, as well as points of contact between journalists and bloggers in Russia and the Muslim world.

The Director General of the OIC Union of News Agencies Mohammed Al-Yami in his speech of welcome to the session noted that the Forum plays a significant role in strengthening cooperation between Russia and the OIC countries and provides opportunities to bring the Russian language into the united media space. In his opinion, the priority tasks are to strengthen the information exchange between news agencies of Russia and the OIC countries in the sphere of culture, consolidate the spiritual and moral values, actively implement the cooperation agreements between our countries to upgrade the journalists’ professional skills, hold joint forums and conferences.

Deputy Chair of the Federation Council Committee on Foreign Affairs Farit Mukhametshin stressed the need to vigorously oppose the collective West in imposing the world order. “It is important for us to resist the attempts to impose dictate, as well as to fight the fakes. This can only be achieved through joint efforts. In this context, the Islamic mass media have a special role to play, considering the likeness of our approaches, and common traditional spiritual and moral values. It is important to implement joint projects to combat ultra-liberal attitudes and Islamophobia, promote liberal attitude and tolerance in the religious sphere, consolidate the best Russian practices of peaceful coexistence of nations,” he said.

Advisor to the Russia – the Islamic World Strategic Vision Group Anna Belikova told about the OIC’s plans to enter into an agreement with the TASS news agency to acquaint the Russian audience with the culture and economic achievements of the of countries of the Islamic world.

Executive Secretary of the Russian Union of Journalists Timur Shafir proposed to consider the establishment of a journalists’ club with headquarters in Moscow to hold major global meetings, as well as local events with the participants from the Islamic countries.