Media important to promoting democracy, Assembly President stresses

The media plays a vital role in encouraging democratization, strengthening the rule of law and promoting institution-building, General Assembly President Srgjan Kerim told today’s opening of a regional forum on the work of the media.

Speaking in Almaty, Kazakhstan, where the Eurasian Media Forum is taking place, Mr. Kerim stressed that the media contributes to the process of democratization by asking difficult questions of those in power, providing access to important information and representing all views impartially.

By carrying out these tasks, the media help to enhance the rule of law and the building of public institutions in countries trying to achieve greater democratization.

“The media are an expression of the necessity and the legal right of every single individual in the society to be informed about what happens around him or her,” he said.

Mr. Kerim said it was important to continue to promote democracy and development as the principal basis of the multilateral system while ensuring that as many people as possible have a stake in the benefits of that system.

He added that all States must work together responsibly and in solidarity with international institutions, along with the media, civil society and the private sector, if they are to take full advantages of the opportunities offered by globalization and to overcome the world’s current major challenges.

While in Kazakhstan, Mr. Kerim also met with President Nursultan Nazarbayev, and the two men focused on regional issues, UN-Kazakh relations and the key topics of the current session of the General Assembly.

Mr. Kerim and Mr. Nazarbayev also discussed inter-religious dialogue as Kazakhstan has hosted both the first and second Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions and is a member of the Group of Friends of the Alliance of Civilizations.

Later the Assembly President is scheduled to travel to the Kazakh capital, Astana, for talks with parliamentary leaders and members of the UN country team. Earlier this week he also made an official visit to Turkmenistan.