In an era of rapid digitalization, when artificial intelligence and disinformation pose threats to the credibility of information, Azerbaijan has once again been showing its attention to the responsible dialogue of the world through the 4th Shusha Global Media Forum. The forum was conducted on July 13–14 on the theme “The Mission of the Media in Promoting Peace: Restoring Truth and Rebuilding Trust” as an embodiment of the visionary leadership of the President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, and the Government of Azerbaijan in promoting international cooperation, ethical journalism and digital resilience.

Shusha, the historic city, has hosted top journalists, policy makers, technology experts and media professionals from all over the world for the fourth consecutive year. Shusha is now a unique place of peace, reconstruction and national revival, which survived for decades with the scars of conflict. Under President Ilham Aliyev’s leadership, it has undergone a transformation that has been recognized internationally and has demonstrated Azerbaijan’s resolve to not only rebuild structures, but to rebuild culture and humanity as well.

A Visionary Message from President Ilham Aliyev

In his opening speech, President Ilham Aliyev underlined that Shusha is itself a symbol of the power of truth, resistance and reconstruction. He underlined the city’s unique rehabilitation from devastation to a prosperous cultural and intellectual hub, setting an example of Azerbaijan’s unyielding dedication to peace, development and cooperation with the international community.

President Aliyev reiterated Azerbaijan’s stance on a just and lasting peace in the South Caucasus, in accordance to international law and mutual respect and regional stability. He also highlighted the increasing strategic value of Azerbaijan’s Middle Corridor, which plays a vital role as a reliable link between Europe and Asia in the new geopolitical context.

His speech was an expression of Azerbaijan’s inclusive approach of spreading dialogue rather than division, cooperation rather than confrontation, and facts rather than misinformation.

Shusha: A Global Platform for Responsible Media

With its steady development, the Shusha Global Media Forum has become one of the most important international events in the region, dedicated to the future of journalism and digital communication, which is the consistent efforts of the Government of Azerbaijan. Nearly 160 participants from 53 countries gathered this year to join in a discussion that included participation by governments, media, academia, technology companies, and international institutions to consider the issues raised in the era of AI, misinformation and a loss of public trust.

Foreign Policy Affairs Department Assistant to the President and Head of the Department Hikmet Hajiyev said that Shusha is a good place for conducting discussions as it has a rich cultural and literary tradition, and has a long history of activities in the fields of journalism and intellectualism. He stressed the need for trust to be rebuilt, highlighting that this will depend on responsible journalism, effective international collaboration, and a multi-faceted approach to combating disinformation and hate speech and fostering positive dialogue between countries.

Prioritizing the Well-Being of Future Generations

The discussion on safeguarding children and young people in the digital age was one of the most progressive discussions held during the forum. The participants discussed how cyberbullying, manipulative online algorithms, and new technologies involving artificial intelligence affect the children and teenagers in their care, and the importance of finding a balance between innovation and safety, individual freedoms, and parent responsibility.

The dialogue highlighted Azerbaijan’s active participation in global initiatives and discussions on online safety and digital ethics, showing the government’s commitment to contributing to a meaningful dialogue on future issues that have international implications.

AI, Cybersecurity and Digital Trust

The forum covered a wide range of topics, including cybersecurity, platform responsibility, and artificial intelligence. The experts of the State Cybersecurity Agency of Azerbaijan, AI experts from around the world and representatives of major IT infrastructure platforms discussed issues related to combating deepfakes, the protection of personal data, increasing digital literacy and strengthening the accountability of platform.

The Government of Azerbaijan also shared the work in progress on the modernization of cybersecurity legislation, that would provide enhancement of digital information environment security and resilience. International technology companies’ involvement in the event showed Azerbaijan’s readiness for inclusive and multi-stakeholder dialogue to solve the emerging technological challenges.

Expanding International Media Cooperation

The forum of “Shusha” was also used to consolidate cooperation among the international community. The D-8 Organization for Economic Cooperation presented a detailed media cooperation plan during the event, which was presented by the D-8 Organization’s Secretary General Sohail Mahmood and the Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan Hikmet Hajiyev. The initiative’s plans involve putting in place a Media Centre of Excellence for the capacity building of media practitioners, research, innovation and countering disinformation in member countries.

It is contributing to Azerbaijan’s active cooperation in the field of media development and cooperation within the region.

A Symbol of Peace, Progress and Global Dialogue

The ongoing success of the Shusha Global Media Forum is further demonstration to Azerbaijan’s emerging role as a responsible member of the international community to tackle complex information challenges. In the era of President Ilham Aliyev and the thorough work of the Government of Azerbaijan in reconstruction, diplomacy, and engagement with the international community, Shusha has become an esteemed platform for titanic debates on key global problems related to media, artificial intelligence, cyber security and peace in a constructive manner.

The forum is also symbolic of Azerbaijan’s vision of creating practical international cooperation that will contribute to responsible journalism and enhance citizens’ trust, technological innovation and peaceful dialogue among countries.

The country’s efforts to build platforms like the Shusha Global Media Forum underscore Azerbaijan’s dedication to positive contributions to a more transparent, secure, and trustworthy global media landscape as AI transforms the information landscape.