THURSDAY, APRIL 25TH, 2002

08.30—09.45: Registration (Ballroom lobby, Regent hotel).

10.00—11.10: Conference Opening (Ballroom).

Chair: broadcaster, journalist, Rizkhan Productions, Riz KHAN (USA)
Welcome Address by the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Mr. Nursultan Nazarbayev
Welcome Speech by the President of Iran, Mr. Mohammad KHATAMI
Welcome note from the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir PUTIN delivered by the Ambassador of Russian Federation to Kazakhstan, Mr. Yuriy MERZLYAKOV
Welcome Speech by the General Secretary of the International Journalists Confederation, Mr. Aidan WHITE
Welcome Address by the Ambassador of the Republic of Kyrgyzstan to France and Benelux countries, writer and public figure, Chingiz AITMATOV

11.10—11.25: Coffee break (Ballroom lobby)

11.25—12.50: Plenary Session #1
THE CONCEPT AND VISIONS OF EURASIA
What is Eurasia? Europe + Asia = Eurasia? Definition and identity. What unites and what separates us? Political, economic, religious and social factors. Can Eurasia be a bridge for East-West dialogue and understanding?
Moderator: Anthony ROBINSON, founder, «Vedomosti» Russia’s independent Business Newspaper
Panelists:

Dariga NAZARBAYEVA, chairperson of the Board of Directors, Khabar Agency (Kazakhstan)
Chingiz AITMATOV, the Ambassador of the Republic of Kyrgyzstan to France and Benelux countries, writer and public figure
Francisco PASCUAL DE LA PARTE, Ambassador of Spain to the Republic of Kazakhstan
Professor Dmitriy VALOVOY, writer, journalist (Russia)
Professor Armen SARKISSIAN, director, Eurasia Center, The Judge Institute of Management Studies University of Cambridge (UK)
Joseph FITCHETT, editor, International Herald Tribune

12.50—14.00: Lunch (Asian Cafe, Regent hotel)

14.00—15.15: Plenary Session #2
EURASIA — THE GEOPOLITICS
What is the strategic role of Eurasia in the global politics of the new millennium? What role do China, Russia and the USA play within the region, particularly after 11 September 2001? What are the main factors for increased international interest and investment?
Moderator: Lutz KLEVEMAN, author (Germany)
Panelists:

Rosemary RIGHTER, associate editor, The Times (UK)
Robert ELEGANT, the author and Asia expert (USA)
Andrew REARICK, director, Golden Eagle Services (Kazakhstan)
Maulen ASHIMBAYEV, director, Kazakhstan Institute of Strategic Research

15.15—15.30: Coffee break (Ballroom lobby)

15.30—16.45: Plenary Session #3
THE COVERAGE OF RELIGION AND FUNDAMENTALISM
The coverage of religion, in particular of fundamentalism and religious separatism has taken on increasingly more significance in the wake of September 11th. As the number of conflicts caused by religious difference shows no sign of dwindling are the international media treating the problem accordingly? How is the problem addressed by media organisations in Central Asia where the number of religious separatist movements is on the up?
Moderator: Riz KHAN, broadcaster, journalist, president, Rizkhan Productions (USA)
Panelists:

Shiraz PARACHA, editor, FENS South & Central Asia Report (Pakistan)
Michael REUPKE, former head of Reuters (UK)
Ferhat BORATAV A., editor in chief, CNN Turk (Turkey)

16.45—17.00: Coffee break (Ballroom lobby)

17.00—18.15: Plenary Session #4
NEW CHALLENGES FACING THE MEDIA 1
The Role of the Media after September 11 — has it changed? With CNN, Fox and BBC World Service reaching audiences worldwide — have their coverages become more multi-dimensional and sensitive to the audience they reach. Have reporters provided an impartial and educated analysis of unfolding events or have they resorted to stereotyping situations and cultures to tell their stories and meet deadlines. How about governments who were involved in the conflict arising from September 11 — whether directly or indirectly — was the media fair in evaluating their roles in the so-called War on Terror? Did the western media give them a fairer assessment than those in the east, or vice versa? Did the emergence of a powerful and respected media player in the Middle East — Al Jazeera — have any impact in the global coverage of events after September 11. And what of Osama Bin Laden and the famous interviews — news organisations could ill-afford to ignore the compelling images of the man allegedly at the heart of the War on Terror. How did the media treat these interviews?
Producer: Associated Press Television News.
Moderator: Jim LAURIE, vice president of Network News & Current Affairs, Star TV (Hong Kong)
Panelists:

Steve CLARK, director of news and production, Middle East Broadcasting Corp. (UK)
Nigel PARSONS, director of sales, APTN (UK)
Avraham SHMULEVICH, director, news agency (Israel)
Imran ASLAM, senior editor, The News Jang Group Printing House (Pakistan)

19.30—20.30: Concert of Kazakhstan Classical Arts
Opera and Ballet stars, symphonic compositions of Kazakh and foreign masters (Abay Opera and Ballet Theatre)

20.30—22.30: Reception/Dinner hosted by the Mayor of Almaty City (Abay Opera and Ballet Theatre)