I congratulate most cordially you, the participants of the 5th World Congress of Russian press, started its work in the capital of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Baku city and wish you success in your activities.

Ideas, proclaimed by the Congress. i.e. spread of the Russian language, strengthening of humanitarian relations, development of cultural and informational exchange, all these are playing an important role in formation of a common informational space, strengthening of ties with Russian language mass media of CIS and foreign countries.

Both Russian languages, the language of genius works of A. Pushkin, F. Dostoyevski, L. Tolstoy and Russian press, rich in traditions are very popular today all over the world. Modern Russian press is characterized by high professionalism, topical selection, serving the ideals of humanism. We highly appraised and appraise the role of the Russian language and Russian press in development of Azerbaijani culture, its junction to advanced common human values, we pay really a great attention to it today.

I think it is not by chance that such an important Congress is being held in the Republic of Azerbaijan, in Baku. Atmosphere of respect and tolerance towards all nations, religions and languages has always existed in Azerbaijan. Here in the republic, we have always showed great respect towards Russian culture and Russian language. A great number of newspapers and magazines of the republic are printed in Russian, we have secondary and higher educational establishments, TV and radio programs in this language.

Russian language is a national value of both Russia and its closest neighbors. This languages was the language of inter-nations communication in the former Soviet Union, and now it remains as inter-nations language in the CIS.

In the 21st century when globalization has obtained a wide spread, the role and responsibility of mass media has increased in revealing and solution of the issues, that nations and mankind are concerned over. Today, mass media renders big influence both on public life of each state and on establishment of friendly relationships between the states and nations, expansion of economic and cultural cooperation, moral values’ exchange.

Press, electronic mass media should actively promote the countries and nations to be close, to contribute into business and cultural cooperation, and on the other hand, to take strict and principle positions against international terrorism, extremism and aggressive separatism, representing a threat to peace and security all over the world. With this aim, each journalist must be a real professional, serve real human and democratic values, and take objective position on events and facts.

I am sure that Russian press will be further contributing into expansion of cooperation between our nations, mutual information exchange, strengthening of peace and security all over the world.

Heydar Aliyev

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan

September 19, 2003