MOSCOW, November 24 (Itar-Tass) —— The mass media’s responsibility for the impartial coverage of ongoing events is soaring, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said in a message of greeting to the participants in and guests of the international conference in Paris called Russia and Europe – Topical Issues of Contemporary International Journalism.
“Over the past decade information technologies have acquired a new quality of life,” Lavrov said. “A special role in this connection is played by international journalism, whose representatives author reports and articles that are available throughout the world.”
“For an international journalist a balanced and objective commentary and real-time video have always been criteria of success,” Lavrov said. “In the context of turbulent international relations and faster pace of change, including that in the region of North Africa and the Middle East, which is very close to Europe, the role of impartial coverage of the ongoing events for the public at large soars immeasurably.”
“It depends a great deal on the level of journalists’ professionalism and their observance of ethical principles whether the mass media will be a factor for strengthening peace and the search for balanced, mutually acceptable ways of overcoming crises or, the other way round, if they will prove accomplices to instigating confrontation and violence,” Lavrov said.
He voiced the certainty that the “discussions would contribute to strengthening understanding among the journalists of greater Europe and help advance the convergence of ideas, which is in such a great demand in the European space.”