ASEAN SECRETARIAT HOSTS REGIONAL MEDIA DIALOGUE

Jakarta, March 9 (ANTARA) - More than fifty senior media people from the East Asia Summit countries, Hong Kong and Pakistan converged at the ASEAN Secretariat for the 2010 East Asia Regional Media Program in Jakarta on Tuesday.

"Here at the ASEAN Secretariat, we are constantly providing the platform for activities that build the capacities of the journalists in the region. Twice a year, we welcome journalists from the ASEAN Member States to learn more about the history, institutions and policies of ASEAN," said the ASEAN Secretary General, Dr. Surin Pitsuwan in his remarks.
The event was opened by Dr Surin Pitsuwan, the Secretary-General of ASEAN, and was also graced by Jusuf Kalla, former Vice President of Indonesia (2004-2009), current Head of the Indonesian Red Cross Society and a skilled negotiator who has mediated many conflict situations in Indonesia.

The two were accompanied by Chris Langley, Charge d'Affaires of the Embassy of New Zealand in Indonesia and Charles Whitely, Charge d'Affaires of the European Union Delegation to Indonesia and Brunei Darussalam.

In his welcome remarks, Dr Surin also stressed the importance that ASEAN places on the media's professionalism and contribution, saying, "As journalists, you have a big responsibility to be the communicator for ASEAN to bring out the truth to the world. ASEAN appreciates your contribution in making the region grow politically, economically, socially, culturally."
He also added that ASEAN's relationship with the media goes a long way.

Kalla, in his keynote speech, shared his vast experience in handling conflicts of politics, religion, economy and culture, in various parts of Indonesia. He also shared his observation of how Indonesia has experienced a freer environment for the media to work in and how the media has helped in conveying post-conflict success stories to the people.

The `East Asia Regional Media Program 2010: Journalism at the Intersection of Politics, Religion and Culture is a three-day event that will give an opportunity for the participants to exchange their first-hand experiences on conflict and journalism in the region with a top line-up of speakers, including senior figures from the media, politics and academia from the East Asia region and further afield.

The Program focuses on current subjects, including the roles of news media at the crossroads between cultures, coverage of wars and conflicts, media and democracy, and the daily challenges and opportunities facing journalists working on inter-cultural issues, it will also consider how the media reports issues that intersect each other and ways to improve upon the reporting.

Apart from creating an opportunity for the participants to extend their networks of regional contacts, the program also builds a sense of community within the media industry in the region.

The 2010 Program is organized by the New Zealand Government, with co-funding from the European Union, as well as support from the East Asia Summit, the Government of Indonesia and the Indonesian Press Council.