Baku, November 1 (AZERTAC). The 3rd Baku International Humanitarian Forum has closed in Azerbaijan`s capital with the adoption of final Declaration.

In the declaration, participants of the Forum said they “note that the contemporary challenges and threats related to the convergence of managerial and production technology have acquired a global character and demand increased attention from the international community from the point of view of the exposure of new dominant factors in the development of society.”

“We recognize that the development of human potential through the transformation of scientific innovations in the education system occupies a central place in efforts to ensure the sustainability of the development process and that reinforcing cooperation in this area is the most important humanitarian component of development.”

They noted “the achievements of many countries, including Azerbaijan, in multiculturalism and consider it necessary to study the experience acquired as a component of the state policy of different countries aimed at achieving consensus in society;

we pay special attention to the need to cover the problems of multiculturalism in the media in order to avert xenophobia, racism, intolerance, and also in order to shape a culture of tolerance.”

“We express our conviction that in the postmodern era a careful and respectful attitude towards different manifestations of national self-awareness, patience, dialogue and cooperation in an atmosphere of trust and mutual understanding are the best guarantees of peace and security.”

“We affirm the need to use the principles of sustainable development and call on all countries to ensure planning and consumption at a level of sensible sufficiency and to achieve a way of life that meets the demands of ecological civilization and ecological ethics,” the Declaration says.

“We realize the need to develop technology based on the achievements of molecular biology and biotechnology, in order to improve the quality and length of life and to eliminate differences in these indicators evident in the world at the present time;

we call on international structures and different humanitarian organizations to systematically hold forums, conferences, discussions and round tables with the aim of holding a dialogue of cultures and creating an atmosphere of tolerance.”

“We note the need to hold this type of forum every year and express our deep gratitude to the President and government of Azerbaijan, the Heydar Aliyev Foundation and all the organizers of the Baku International Humanitarian Forum for holding such a major event, turning Baku on 31 October and 1 November this year into a centre of discussion of humanitarian problems.”

The participants said they “consider it necessary to pass this declaration and use it with the aim of organizing international humanitarian cooperation and assistance to ensure effective coordination in this regard.”

Attended by outstanding representatives of the world`s political, scientific and cultural elite, statesmen, Nobel Prize’s winners in various fields of science from more than 100 countries, as well as heads of international organizations, the Forum featured eight round tables.

Organized by Azerbaijan State Telegraph Agency (AZERTAC), “The Topical Issues of Mass Media in the Globalizing Information Network” roundtable included three panels.

The round table was opened by AZERTAC Director General Mr. Aslan Aslanov, who said: “I am privileged to open the roundtable which deals with introduction of high technologies in a completely new type of journalism - social journalism - as well as new challenges facing contemporary media.”

“As you may note from the program of the roundtable, the spectrum of issues put onto the agenda of our roundtable is quite broad. Discussion will revolve around such issues as technological novelties during the evolution of social networks, interaction between these networks and traditional journalism, intercivilization dialogue through the lens and with active participation of media.”

The first panel was moderated by Mr. Mikhail Gusman, first deputy Director General, ITAR-TASS agency, Russia. He provided an insight into the agenda of the round table. Speakers at the panel included Mr. David Parry, chairman, Allting Ltd., poet, dramaturge, UK; Mr. David Cameron Cuthell, Adjunct Associate Professor, the Middle East Institute, Columbia University, U.S.; Mr. Alex Giboi, Director General, AGERPRES, Romania; Mr. Dauren Diyarov, Director, Kazinform agency, Kazakhstan; Mr. Shamil Valiyev, Dean, Journalism Department, Baku State University, professor, Azerbaijan; and Mr. Alovsat Aliyev, head of department, Institute of Information Technologies, associate professor, Azerbaijan. Ms. Elmira Akhundova, a member of the Azerbaijani parliament, made comments on the reports delivered by the speakers.

The second panel, called “Mass Media and Inter-Civilization Dialogue: from Polarity to Engagement and Tolerance”, discussed the role of contemporary journalism against the background of global humanitarian problems. Moderated by Mr. David Cameron Cuthell, Adjunct Associate Professor, the Middle East Institute, Columbia University, U.S., the panel will heared reports by Mr. Vladimir Socor, Senior Fellow, Jamestown Foundation, U.S.; Mr. Aslan Aslanov, Director General, AZERTAC, Azerbaijan; Ms. Julia Argentina Perié, member of Chamber of Deputies, National Congress, Argentina; Ms. Irina Astakhova, Editor-in-Chief, Kishinevskiy Obozrevatel newspaper, director of MLD Media Research Center, Moldova; Ms. Marina Kim, TV channel Rossiya, Russia; Ms. Aynur Karimova, teacher, Baku State University, Azerbaijan; Mr. Yadigar Imamverdiyev, head of department, Institute of Information Technologies, Azerbaijan.

Mr. Aslanov delivered a report entitled “Dialogue - the key to tolerance. The role of media as a tool for introducing multiculturalism values”. “In recent years, some have voiced opinion that globalization poses some threat to the uniqueness of cultures, in particular, small nations, and this idea has been ostensibly developed by transnational corporations specifically for the cultural expansion. Supporters of such interpretation of globalization do not want to see the obvious thing: the contemporary world represents myriads of intensively interacting peoples, religions and cultures,” Mr. Aslanov said. “The specific feature of this interaction, on the one hand, requires building open relations among representatives of various cultures, on the other hand, every nation seeks to preserve its identity. So the strategy of international, interconfessional communication in the globalizing world must rely on new legal, moral and social norms regulating this complex sphere of human relations on the basis of multiculturalism and tolerance and in contrast to extremism, racism, chauvinism and confrontation.” “Azerbaijan is known internationally as a polytechnic, multiconfessional and tolerant state in which a wonderful atmosphere has been created for exercising rights of representatives of all regional and national minorities. In our country, the wealth and diversity of all existing cultures are preserved and cultivated with respect paid to all representatives of all social, ethnic and religious groups. Therefore, President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev pays a special attention to multiculturalism and tolerance in our society. At the same time, our society would like to see the same attitude abroad, especially, in places where those coming from our country live.” AZERTAC`s Director General said: “Unfortunately, hatred against immigrations, Islamophobia, and desire to “purge” countries from strangers can be seen nowadays in many large Western economies. There is an upward trend in manifestations of intolerance, xenophobia, aggressive nationalism, racism, alienation and discrimination towards national, ethnic, religious and language minorities, refugees, migrant workers and less socially protected groups in the society. There are facts of violence and intimidation of some persons exercising their rights for freedom of expression.” Mr. Aslanov said: “This situation, undoubtedly, requires media outlets step up their efforts to build “immunity system” towards ethnic and religious aggressiveness, stimulate interest of journalists towards conceptual foundations of the cultural policy both at the level of states as well as global level. It is possible with the assistance of media to ensure transparency of the decision-making process in cultural policy, functioning and interaction of national-cultural autonomies, etc.” He noted: “The study of electronic versions of media outlets conducted since 2000 in the European Union countries, especially, in the new members showed that about 12% of publications contain, to a greater or lesser degree, some hallmarks of mockery against other cultures. And this figure remains virtually stable during the whole period of the study. It enhances the general and specific state of tension, which increases aggressiveness and intolerance of social groups or certain individuals, forms egocentric type of culture of interpersonal and social relationships.” Mr. Aslanov said: “To assist in building tolerant conscience and prevent the spread of extremism and violence in their countries, the media must first of all build respect of their audience to the existing diversity of cultures, kindly show the diversity of values and ideas various people are committed to, unveil the antisocial nature of extremism in all of its manifestations.” He concluded by saying “it is necessary to change many things in the consciousness of journalists and activity of institutions of professional journalist community in order to enhance the role of media in building directives of tolerance in the society. Reduction of media`s aggressiveness level requires not only journalists` realizing the significance of the problem but also mastering new tools of professional activity ensuring mass dialogue among all the participants of social processes. “Dialogue - the key to tolerance” - this is how the essence of the new professional culture of journalists can be formulated. We, media leaders, are very much responsible for our society, and it has become everyday slogan in our work.”

The third panel, called “Traditional Journalism and Social Networks”, featured discussions on the link between conventional news industry and rapidly developing social media. The panel was moderated by Mr. Alex Giboi, Director General of AGERPRES agency, Romania. Panelists included Mr. Sergey Braga, Editor-in-Chief, Uryadoviy Kuryer newspaper, Ukraine; Ms. Sigrid Kõiv, editor, Postimees newspaper, Estonia; Mr. Kirill Shevchenko, professor, Minsk branch of Russian State Social University, Belarus; Ms. Amanda Paul, Policy Analyst and Programme Executive, European Policy Center, Belgium; Ms. Sabina Izzatli, teacher, Baku Slavic University, Azerbaijan; Ms. Sevinj Aliyeva, deputy dean, Journalism Department, Baku State University, associate professor, Azerbaijan.