What they said - Notable quotes from day three

“Democracy is something general and the media is the oxygen… In most post-totalitarian countries, governments and the media shape themselves in a delicate, sensitive way on both sides. We can reach values if we overcome these conflicting points” – Vladimir Rerikh, advisor to chairperson of Board of Directors on Development, Khabar Agency, Kazakhstan

“The media is oppositional by nature” – Vladimir Rerikh

“There is no censorship (in the Russian media) but there is self-censorship. This is a new concept in Russia” – Andrey Kolesnikov, PR director, FKB; member of Creative Board of the League of right political parties; columnist Izvestiya newspaper.

Freedom of expression is something we have been focusing on so much…. But freedom of expression might be different in different countries. Some countries have different levels of development” – Ashot Djazoyan, general secretary, International Journalist Unions Confederation (Russia)

“We are the vehicles of information. We are not the information” - Yuri Goligorsky, editor, Central Asia and Caucasus Service, BBC World Service

“Ten years ago the (UNESCO) declaration was passed on development of an independent and pluralistic media. This declaration is no less urgent today than it was 10 years ago” - Henrikas Iouchkiavitchious, advisor to UNESCO’s director general

“There were aspects of the Soviet press that were terrific… You just had to know how to read it. Question was who is behind this, what is the secret message? These are a very sceptical people” – Anthony Robinson, founder of “Vedomosti, Russia’s independent business newspaper

“A market economy can only work if market participents are well informed… Individuals who have freedom in the market place to make choices also demand freedom in political life” – Charles Frank, former vice-president European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (UK)

“The EBRD operates in 27 different countries. We believe that an independent press, one that is open and willing to listen, is an essential element to ensuring that investors get fair treatment” – Charles Frank

“It is very difficult to have a free press if the editor has not got any money” – Anthony Robinson

“We can only hope that the (Hungarian) secret service and regulating bodies will do their jobs and not try to blackmail independent media companies…We hope for the best” – Istvan Palffy, head of news, tv2 MTM-SBS Television, Hungary

“Technology is moving very rapidly indeed. Opportunities for voices to be heard are growing and there is a certain inevitability about it” – Mike Reilly, Principal, Globalwriters (USA)

“Dialogue between East and West is not possible without the media, and the absence of dialogue creates tension” – Henrikas Iouchkiavitchious