On 11 June, the Russian House in Cairo hosted the first media forum, “The Place of Egyptian and other African Media in the Perspective of the Changing Global Media”, timed to coincide with the second Russia – Africa Summit, which will be held from 26 to 29 July in St. Petersburg under the motto “Technology and Security in the Name of Sovereign Development for the Benefit of Mankind”.
The event was attended by Ambassador of Russia to Egypt G. E. Borisenko, journalists from leading media outlets of the two countries, including Head of RT-Arabic TV Chanel Maya Mannaa, Executive Director of TeN TV Nashat El-Dihi, Editor-in-Chief of Al-Shorouk Newspaper Emad Hussein, as well as representatives of social and academic circles and prominent experts.
Official Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Egypt A. Abu-Zeid, Vice-President of the Supreme Council for Egyptian Media Regulation S. El-Salhi, Director-General of the Federation of News Agencies in the Member States of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation Mohamed Al-Yami and Chairman of the Egyptian Council for Foreign Affairs E. Saad were among the guests of honor.
M. V. Zakharova, the director of the Department of Information and Press of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia, delivered the welcome speech. She noted that Moscow would carefully study the results of the consultations, and suggested that these consultations continue, within the framework of the relevant session in the upcoming Russian-African summit, to develop effective mechanisms for equal cooperation in the field of public communications.
The audience also heard the address by F. M. Mukhametshin, the deputy chairman of the Committee on International Affairs of the Federation Council of Russia and the deputy chairman of the Group of Strategic Vision «Russia – Islamic World» The Senator wished the speakers productive work and noted the invaluable role of national media in protecting the public from aggressive external propaganda. It was emphasized that the Russian party is interested in effective coordination with its Arab and African partners on this track, including with a focus on countering the spread of extremist and terrorist ideas.
El-Hussein Ba, a special guest from Senegal, introduced the first pan-African social network, “One Africa”, which he founded. It combines five platforms of different orientation and has more than 650 thousand subscribers.