Press file

The 7^th European Ministerial Conference on Mass Media Policy will take place at the International Exhibition Centre (15 Brovarsky Avenue) in Kiev on 10 and 11 March.

The conference will be fully open to the media.
Participants
The conference will be opened by Council of Europe Deputy Secretary General Maud de Boer-Buquicchio and a high-level representative of the Ukrainian authorities.

Other participants will include:

· Media and communication ministers and high-level officials from the 46 Council of Europe member states
· Keynote speakers:
o Kate Adie (BBC journalist and author)
o Ben Bagdikian (author, journalist and media critic)
o Ignacio Ramonet (Editor in Chief, “Le Monde Diplomatique”)
· Representatives of major international media organisations, including the European Broadcasting Union, the European Federation of Journalists and the European Internet Services Providers Association
· International, national and regional NGOs concerned with issues related to human rights and the media
· Representatives from the Council of Europe’s observer states and other international organisations (including the EU, the UN and the OSCE)

Programme
The latest version of the draft programme can be found at www.coe.int/2005-media

There will be three main sessions:

Session 1: Freedom of expression and information in times of crisis
Including:

· An introductory report from the Turkish delegation
· A speech from Kate Adie
· A contribution submitted by NGOs
· A general discussion

Session 2: Cultural and media diversity in a time of globalisation

Including:

· An introductory report from the Swedish delegation
· A speech from Ben Bagdikian
· A contribution submitted by NGOs
· A general discussion

Session 3: Human rights and regulation of the media and new communication services in the Information Society

Including:

· An introductory report from the Polish delegation
· A speech from Ignacio Ramonet
· A contribution submitted by NGOs
· A general discussion

Other elements

The conference will also include:

· The presentation of a report on progress made since the last such ministerial conference, which took place in Krakow in 2000
· Discussions on the political texts to be adopted at the end of the conference
· Closing speeches from Pierre-Henri Imbert, the Council of Europe’s Director General for Human Rights, and the Chairperson of the Conference

Press conference

A press conference involving the Council of Europe Deputy Secretary General and high-level representative from the Ukrainian authorities is scheduled to take place at 10.30am on the first day of the conference (Thursday 10 March).

Interpretation will be provided in English, French, Russian and Ukrainian.

Media briefing

A media briefing will be held shortly after the end of the conference - at approximately 2pm on Friday 11 March - to enable journalists to talk to some of the people involved in drawing up the political texts to be discussed at the conference.

Again, interpretation will be provided in English, French, Russian and Ukrainian.

Output
The conference will conclude with the adoption of the following texts:

· A political declaration
· Three separate resolutions (one on each of the main topics to be discussed)
· An action plan setting out the priorities for Council of Europe-led work in these areas for the coming years

Copies of all of the draft political texts can be found at www.coe.int/2005-media

Side events

NGO forum

A forum bringing together a wide range of international, national and regional NGOs concerned with issues to be discussed at the conference will take place at the conference venue on Tuesday 8 March.

The forum will enable the NGOs to draw up and submit formal written contributions, and to prepare oral presentations which will be given during the conference itself.

A press conference is due to take place at the end of the forum, at around 6.30pm.

Round Table (to be confirmed)

A round table discussion is currently scheduled to take place at the end of the first day (approximately 6pm on Thursday 10 March).

The event will be open to anyone wishing to take part and will allow a wide-ranging discussion of topical media issues, involving some of the key conference participants.

N.B. The round table event is being organised independently of the Council of Europe, and will not necessarily reflect the Council’s views.

Media arrangements

Registration and accreditation

Journalists wishing to attend the conference should apply for accreditation online via the official conference website:
www.infomedia-e.expo2000.org.ua/en/registration/press

Registration for journalists will take place at the conference venue (International Exhibition Centre, 15 Brovarsky Av., Kiev) from Wednesday 9 March.

Accommodation

A list of hotels and prices can be found on the official conference website, at: www.infomedia-e.expo2000.org.ua/en/services

Requests for accommodation can either be noted on the online accreditation form, or sent to Ms Irina Zelenina at heifich@expo2000.org.ua

Further information
Further information on the conference is available at www.coe.int/2005-media, or by contacting Council of Europe press officer Andrew Cutting on +33 3 90 21 50 27, +33 6 86 32 10 24 or andrew.cutting@coe.int.

More information can also be found on the official conference website, at www.infomedia-e.expo2000.org.ua

Further details on the Council of Europe’s work in the field of the media and communication can be found at: www.coe.int/T/E/Com/Files/Themes/media-freedom