Journalists from Eastern Partnership countries discuss media issues

Prague/01.12.22/Turan: About a hundred journalists and media professionals are attending an Eastern Partnership conference in Prague on December 1-2 to discuss media issues in the countries of the region.

The event is organised by the Czech Foreign Ministry and the European Commission in partnership with Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL).

It should be reminded that journalists face extraordinary difficulties in the Eastern Partnership countries, the forum organisers note. Some countries rank lowest on the World Press Freedom Index".

Russia's illegal and unprovoked aggression against Ukraine has reveraled the power and danger of Russian propaganda targeting not only Ukraine, but other countries in the near abroad as well.

During the two-day conference, participants will discuss how to strengthen the sustainability of independent media and professional journalism in Eastern Partnership countries.

Czech Deputy Foreign Minister Jaroslav Kurfürst emphasised the important role of free media.  "They help us to find out the truth. It is necessary to be protected from Russian propaganda. The Czech Republic is ready to help for democracy," he said.

Lawrence Meredith, head of the directorate general of the Middle European Commission, regretted that people still succumb to misinformation.

"We are fighting against it. We want to help professionalise journalism," he said.   

Jamie Fly, president and CEO of Radio Liberty, spoke about the role of free media and the impact of Russian propaganda.

Emine Japarova, Ukraine's Deputy Foreign Minister, spoke about the difficult work of Ukrainian journalists under the Russian occupation. -06/16D-