After the Soviet Union's disintegration journalists from the former "fraternal" republics had few opportunities to meet. Our presidents meet almost ten times per year, and we have gathered together once in 15 years, head of the Kazinfo news agency Marat Manaspayev said at the forum. But these 15 years of independent existence have not alienated us. Not a single publication, which we invited to come to Moscow, rejected our offer.
On December 1, Moscow became the venue for an enormous news event. Readers, TV viewers, radio listeners, and Internet users of the media represented at the forum formed a multi-million post-Soviet audience. Four days were obviously not enough to discuss everything necessary for developing business contacts and establishing dynamic partnerships. Many wished they were able to visit Moscow more often, and some people came for the first time since the Soviet Union's disintegration. For others, the forum provided an opportunity to come to Moscow for the first time ever.
Estonian colleagues first tried to persuade the others than they were now far removed from non-EU issues. However, they quickly returned to the orbit of common problems, and were glad to say that without this forum they were unlikely to receive first-hand information on life in today's Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. Lithuanian Marius Laurinavicius, deputy editor-in-chief of Lietuvos Rytas told the organizers of the meeting that he would be happy to come to the second or third forum because it is much more interesting here than, say, in Copenhagen.
Temperamental journalists from Georgia talked about their grievances over the economic sanctions. Instead of taking a direct flight from Tbilisi to Moscow, they had to come via Istanbul. It is no secret that deterioration of bilateral relations sometimes generates mutual accusations in the press. But despite different political processes in our countries, and disagreements between governments, professional friendship still prevails over politics. Only the ignorant would be surprised that after heated debates during break-out sessions, all participants went to a Georgian restaurant to eat kebabs and listen to male polyphony. Naturally enough, all of us sang what we remembered since childhood: "Flourish under the Sun, my Georgia." Journalists find the language of hostility inadmissible. An irritated phrase in a dispute by a Georgian colleague "We will leave for NATO anyway" seemed like a childish threat. Nobody will be able to leave anywhere. Moscow will always be closer to the Caucasus than Washington, and this is not just geography.
Likewise, we have the same information space. There is no point in talking about the need to establish it, or in proving that it is a myth - its existence is indisputable. In a dozen years the viable information space of the post-Soviet countries has given such broad opportunities for a free exchange of ideas and opinions that hardly exist in every stable international system. Hopefully, there is no need to prove to anyone that a gap in this common space is fraught with destructive consequences not only for communication, that is, the humanitarian field, but also for many other major spheres.
The mass media is not just a source of information for society. Their role is much bigger than that. Sometimes, the media become the main force in shaping the atmosphere of tolerance, and mutual understanding between nations, or, conversely, in fanning conflicts and enmity. Fortunately, today nobody makes people stay friends against their will.
The forum also helped its participants to give up stereotypes. They have discovered a new Russia - a country without imperial ambitions, which is ready to be a partner with their countries, but on a more pragmatic basis. Meetings with key figures in the Russian government - Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov, and curator of national projects Dmitry Medvedev - were held in this vein. Although they met journalists on different days, the talk revolved around problems which are vital both for Russia and its next-door neighbors - the destiny of the CIS, and cooperation in the energy and security spheres.
Indicatively, participants in the forum immediately sent information on these meetings to their publications. This is what Nair Aliyev wrote in the Azeri Echo: "Although the Russian officials made quite balanced statements and tried to ease tensions, the questions they were asked were very tough." Later on, he noted that the forum is useful and important, because it offers an opportunity for communication, and that "there is no doubt that if RIA Novosti continues the tradition, it will benefit the media of the CIS and Baltic nations."
The Novosti-Gruzia news agency draws the attention of its audience to the comments of First Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev on the gas issue: "The price of Russian gas should not be used for political ends." Ukrainian journalists asked about President Putin's expected visit to Ukraine, and reported home: "Medvedev said that the Russian authorities expect a change in Russian-Ukrainian relations."
The Lithuanian Internet publication Sugardas quoted Sergei Ivanov: "I think it is high time to forget old grievances, and far-fetched claims against each other. Contacts in such major spheres as trade, economic, and security unite the majority of our countries."
Many CIS and Baltic countries have already realized that niches in the world economy are mostly occupied, and that the capacious market of the CIS and Russia is their best bet. Necessity and profit is a weighty argument in favor of preserving the status quo of the common information space. Although goods from the West and the East are being exported to post-Soviet countries, and they are developing their national languages, and intensively studying English, the Russian language still remains indispensable for communication. Cultural and humanitarian values are also largely perceive through Russian channels.
This does not mean exclusive presence of the Russian language in the common communication space. Nor does it mean that information is authentic if it comes from Russian sources. Our information exchange should be a two-way street. The first forum of the national media has demonstrated a common striving for open dialogue. It has shown that the post-Soviet media community can find a common language to talk about vital problems. Nobody says that this dialogue will always go smoothly. Nobody is going to voice unilateral views or suggest indisputable solutions. But we are ready to discuss even the most sensitive subjects. We can declare where our interests coincide, and where they contradict each other. The main point is to avoid monopoly on the local or regional truth in the entire post-Soviet space.
It is clear now that the Moscow forum tradition will continue. We could meet in Astana, Riga or any other capital in order to discuss urgent professional problems, conduct consultations, and join efforts against the forces which are trying to sow mistrust in our ranks.
Ella Taranova is deputy director of RIA Novosti chief directorate for the CIS and Baltic Nations
