Eurasia Partnership Foundation (EPF), in cooperation with the Aleksanteri Institute of the University of Helsinki, and the Wider Europe Network hold international events in Helsinki, Finland on September 9 & 10, 2009. The EPF’s Seminar of September 9 Ascertaining Facts: The Georgian War & The Impact on Media in the War-torn South Caucasus started with the book presentation by Anna-Lena Laurén, There are no masters in the mountains – on the Caucasus and its people. Anna-Lena Laurén is Moscow correspondent of Finnish Broadcasting Company (YLE). Alexander Stubb, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Finland made opening remarks and spoke about his experience with Georgian war. On September 10 EPF was asked to organize an afternoon session in the Wider Europe Network seminar From Northern Dimension to Eastern Partnership – the evolving European Neighborhood Policy in the East about the Finnish Wider Europe Initiative. Both seminars were the high-level events that brought together representatives of foreign governments, practitioners and experts in the areas of media, European Initiatives, and the development. Both international events afforded a wonderful opportunity for discussions that facilitate furthering the partnerships between the South Caucasus and Finland, in the wider European context, where civil society can bring more transparency and accountability to the critical processes required for successful development.
9:00 – 12:00 Lessons from the Georgian war
09:00 – 09:05 Welcome/Introduction
George Zarubin, President, EPF
09:05 – 09:35 OPENING REMARKS
Alexander Stubb, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Finland
Lessons from the Georgian war
09:35 – 09:55 THE HISTORICAL REASONS BEHIND THE GEORGIAN WAR
Arto Luukkanen, University of Helsinki
09:55 – 10:15 BOOK PRESENTATION
Anna-Lena Laurén, Anna-Lena Laurén, Moscow correspondent of Finnish Broadcasting Company (YLE), author of the book There are no masters in the mountains – on the Caucasus and its people (Vuorilla ei ole herroja – Kaukasiasta ja sen kansoista, I bergen finns inga herrar – om Kaukasien och dess folk)
10:30 – 11:00 GEORGIA’S PERSPECTIVE
David Rakviashvili, Deputy State Minister for Reintegration of Georgia
11:00 – 11:30 PANEL DISCUSSIONS
Moderated by Mikko Palonkorpi, Researcher, Aleksanteri Institute
David Rakviashvili, Deputy State Minister of Reintegration
Arto Luukkanen, University of Helsinki
Anna-Lena Laurén, Journalist, author of the book
Susanna Niinivaara, Journalist, Helsingin Sanomat
12:00 – 17:30 – EPF’s Seminar The Crisis of Independent Media in the South Caucasus
An independent, vibrant and critical media is essential for the transitional democracies in post-Soviet states to shape public opinion, keep citizens informed and hold local governments accountable. In Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan an independent media additionally can and must play an important role in promoting understanding and tolerance among the nations in the region and create ties over national boundaries. Aspiration to Europe requires adherence to the European standards of journalism, which guarantee media diversity and freedom.
In the countries of the South Caucasus, government influence on the media, including overt and covert censorship, on-going, unresolved conflicts, political affiliations and lack of professionalism of both central and regional media outlets, further limits the spectrum of viewpoints that have access to the Mass Media. In addition, the situation highlights the contradiction of local governments agreeing to EU/CoE standards while not following through on their actual implementation.
Legitimate questions remain about media rights, performance and professionalism, and the role of public communications practitioners in shaping public perception. What could the international community do to improve the situation? What is the role of civil society in promoting independent media and engaging citizens in civic activism through the free flow of unbiased information?
This seminar will bring together practitioners in the areas of media and development to discuss these issues and ways to strengthen participatory democracy by investigating and exposing public relations spin and propaganda.
12:00 – 13:30 LUNCH AND ADDRESS
Mr. Harri Kämäräinen, Deputy Director, Unit for Eastern Europe and Central Asia Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland
13:45 – 14:00 OPENING REMARKS
George Zarubin, President, Eurasia Partnership Foundation
Dr. Anna-Maria Salmi, Head of Development, the Aleksanteri Institute
14:00 – 15-45 MEDIA PERCEPTIONS AND CHALLENGES
The effective functioning of any democratic system of government depends on a two-way flow of information between the government and the people. Unfortunately, in the South Caucasus where conflicts remain unresolved and governments maintain a wartime mentality, the media remains in crisis. Media outlets are politicized and controlled by governments, leading to a lack of alternative points of views. This session will look at the public perceptions, recent developments and trends in the field of media rights and access to information in the countries of the South Caucasus.
Moderated by George Zarubin, President, EPF
#Hans Gutbrod, CRRC Director, EPF
Public perception of major trends in the media over the last two years in Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia
#Levon Barseghyan, Asparez Journalists’ Club, Armenia
What are the issues affecting the implementation of Armenia’s freedom of information law?
Levon Barseghyan speech (60.79 KBytes)
#Khadija Ismailova, Radio Liberty Azerbaijan
Media under the government’s control
Khadija Ismailova's presentation (385.55 KBytes)
#Lia Chakhunashvili, Dean of Caucasus School of Media at Caucasus University, (Georgia)
Georgian media at present – major challenges and achievements
Discussion
16:00 – 17:30 IDENTIFYING REAL & PRACTICAL SOLUTIONS
Pervasive, widespread bias often appearing in the media in the South Caucasus contravenes the standards of journalism. The direction and degree of media bias in various countries is widely disputed, although its causes are both practical and theoretical. This session will focus on how to prevent media bias and what role civil society organizations play in it. Investigative journalism, as a civic watchdog tool and a component of the Council of Europe’s standards, as well as the mechanisms for protection of journalists will also be discussed.
Moderated by Greg Simons, Uppsala University, Sweden
#Shain Abasov, IREX Azerbaijan
What are the threats to journalists and how can they be redressed?
Shain Abbasov speech (16.18 KBytes)
#Ketevan Vashakidze, Georgia Country Director, EPF
Strengthening the role of media, as a watchdog institution
#Boris Navasardyan Yerevan Press Club, EPF’s Grantee
EPF’s Media Bias program. Investigative Journalism and Security of Journalists in Armenia
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15 March 2012
Eurasia Partnership Foundation, in cooperation with swisspeace and Bosch Foundation are going to organize a seminar “South Caucasus : Dark Spots & Bright Spots in a Peacebulding: Civil Society’s Role” that will be held in Bern, Switzerland on March 27, 2012.
23 February 2012
EPF and the Turkish Economic and Social Studies Foundation (TESEV), Istanbul-based independent non-governmental think-tank, analyzing social, political and economic policy issues facing Turkey are going to organize a seminar Turkey’s South Caucasus Agenda: Roles of State and Non-State Actors on March 2, 2012 in Tbilisi, Georgia. Please see the agenda and confirm your participation with Aybars Gurgulu at aybars@tesev.org.tr
12 January 2012
Eurasia Partnership Foundation (EPF), in cooperation with the European Policy Centre and the Robert Bosch Foundation held international seminar about EU’s role in the South Caucasus in Brussels, Belgium on 14 December 2011.
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