An international conference formally titled “Media in Digital Environment: Challenges and Opportunities” kicked off at Sheraton Dushanbe Hotel on September 22.

The conference has brought together media managers and journalists of independent media outlets from Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Ukraine and the Czech Republic.

In a statement delivered at the conference, Tajik Presidential Adviser Shuhrat Bouriyev noted that it should be taken into consideration that under conditions of globalization, extremists are using media for spreading their ideas.

He noted that countries that are not able to counter the information war face political instability.  “Under such conditions, media outlets should protect national interests and security of their country, using their resources,” said the presidential adviser.  “It is impossible to imagine stability of a country without participation of media.”

Besides, Bouriyev noted that media outlets are also an important instrument of providing the population with objective socially significant information.

Deputy Minister of Culture, Information and Tourism of Kyrgyzstan, Ms. Aynoura Temirbekova, also spoke about danger of modern information wars.

According to her, these challenges pose a certain threat to Kyrgyzstan as well.  She called on the conference participants to pay proper attention to that issue.

“In Kyrgyzstan, the government and journalists themselves are taking efforts to promote development of media,” Ms. Temirbekova said, noting that they plan to reform the state-run media outlets for the purpose of optimizing expenses.

Tomorrow, Tajik and visiting foreign media specialists will participate in the work of the forum entitled “Involvement of Audience: New Formats.”