IV World Congress of Russian Press

IV World Congress of Russian Press met in Berlin on 23-26 October 2002.

Germany is a country with one of the largest Russian-speaking diaspora and accordingly widely represented Russian press.

Congress was welcomed by the Russian President Vladimir Putin and German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder.

Members of Congress - executives and leading journalists from Russian media from 47 countries - were planning to review the current state of Russian foreign press, its role and place in the life of the diaspora in the context of globalization. However, the dramatic events in Moscow related to the hostage-taking in the theater on Dubrovka, completely changed the course and content of the Congress.  The question of the social role of the media in the context of increasing threats of terrorism, the conflict of "live broadcast" and limited information during anti-terrorist operations, the understanding of professional duty of a journalist to expose the inhuman and criminal nature of terrorism came to the forefront of the forum.

The Deputy Prime Minister Valentina Matviyenko and the Mayor of Berlin, Walter Mompach attended and presented at the forum.