The participants of the 28th session of the CIS Council of Heads of State News Agencies (CIS Information Council) held a video conference on Monday to discuss issues of cooperation in the next year.
Heads of AzerTac (Azerbaijan), Armenpress (Armenia), BelTA (Belarus), Kazinform (Kazakhstan), Kabar (Kyrgyzstan), TASS (Russia), Khovar (Tajikistan) and UzA (Uzbekistan) agreed to continue coordination of information activities, preparation, and implementation of joint projects and events aimed at developing cooperation between CIS member states in the humanitarian and information fields. In connection with the chairmanship of Kyrgyzstan in the CIS next year, it was noted that almost 100 major events are planned to be held in the republic. Members of the Information Council expressed their support for rapid coverage and exchange of relevant information.
The need for cooperation in counteracting the spread of fake news, which aims to sow mistrust between peoples, was also noted. The issues of information security in modern conditions are among the most urgent ones, noted the heads of state news agencies.
The necessity of preserving the historical memory of peoples was also discussed at the meeting. Participants of the meeting got acquainted with the activities of the state news agency of Belarus, where this year is proclaimed the Year of Historical Memory, with the experience of preparing unique publications, exhibitions, and posters on the basis of archival materials.
CIS journalists plan to cover more than 150 events timed to the Year of the Russian language as a language of interethnic communication which is proclaimed in the CIS in 2023, the II CIS Games scheduled for August next year, as well as events in St. Petersburg which next year will get the title of the CIS Cultural Capital. Water supply and climate change issues were also discussed.
The participants agreed to develop topics on domestic tourism in the CIS, exchange journalists and implement other joint projects.
Informational cooperation
The CIS Information Council was established in November 1995. It consists of the heads of state news services of Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russia, and Tajikistan. The chairman of the Information Council is TASS General Director Sergei Mikhailov.
The activities of the CIS Information Council are aimed at ensuring interaction and cooperation of the CIS countries in the information sphere, creating favorable conditions for the unimpeded distribution of information and the effective exchange of experience in professional activities, as well as strengthening media partnerships.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
Photo: PxHere/CC0
Based on materials from TASS