Baku Forum Highlights Media’s Role in Bridging Global Divides
Jerusalem, 4 October, 2026 (TPS-IL) -- Baku (AZERTAC) – Organized by the Media and Broadcasting Council, the CICA Media Forum on “Building Trust through Media in a Polarized World” was held in Baku.
Hikmet Hajiyev, Assistant to the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan and Head of the Foreign Policy Affairs Department of the Presidential Administration, delivered President Ilham Aliyev’s address to the forum participants.
In his address, Secretary General of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia Kairat Sarybay highlighted Azerbaijan’s contributions to connectivity and digitalization within CICA, as well as the achievements made during its chairmanship.
He emphasized the importance of holding the forum against the backdrop of geopolitical tensions, climate challenges, and economic pressures, stressing that such events build bridges of mutual understanding.
“Deeper cooperation among the member states of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA) should be accompanied by closer ties among media professionals. Today’s Media Forum provides an excellent opportunity to foster these contacts, exchange experience, and bring CICA initiatives to a wider audience,” Kairat Sarybay emphasized.
Speaking at the forum, Representative of the President of Azerbaijan on Special Assignments Khalaf Khalafov stressed the importance of objective, responsible, and professional media amid rising geopolitical tensions and growing disinformation and hate speech. He noted that strengthening mutual trust and international cooperation also requires coordinated efforts in the media sector.
Describing the expansion of cooperation in the media sector as one of the priorities of Azerbaijan’s chairmanship, Khalaf Khalafov added: “Professional exchange of experience within a unified information space, strengthening joint efforts to combat disinformation, and promoting the principles of responsible journalism are of particular importance.”
Following the opening ceremony, the forum continued with a panel session on “Azerbaijan’s Chairmanship: Initiatives, Cooperation, Results.”
In his remarks, Azerbaijan’s Deputy Minister of Digital Development and Transport Samaddin Asadov said ties among the countries would continue to strengthen. He stressed that confidence-building measures should extend to transport corridors, contributing to deeper economic integration, fostering relations, and advancing multifaceted initiatives.
Other speakers, including Sadagat Gahramanova, Deputy Chair of the State Committee for Family, Women and Children Affairs, and Farhad Mammadov, Deputy Chairman of the Board of the Center for Analysis of International Relations and the Baku International Multiculturalism Centre, highlighted Azerbaijan’s strategic position connecting different continents. They noted that international security crises are making developments harder to predict, further increasing the importance of regional issues.
“The media is no longer merely a source of information; it is also a key force in shaping public opinion, fostering understanding among different communities and strengthening ties between societies. This influence places significant responsibility on journalism,” said Pakistan’s Minister of State for Federal Education and Professional Training Wajiha Qamar at one panel discussion.
Montaser Abu Zeid, Ambassador of the State of Palestine to Kazakhstan, said AI offers new opportunities for journalism, including faster information analysis, fact-checking, and access to knowledge, while also creating risks such as misinformation, fake content, and public opinion manipulation. He stressed the need for transparency, oversight, and adherence to professional and ethical standards.
