Opinions & Interviews

MINSK, 8 June (BelTA) – All the efforts will be exercised in Belarus to prevent the national information space from becoming an arena of information wars. Belarusian Information Minister Liliya Ananich made the statement during the plenary session of the 10^th Belarusian International Media Forum, BelTA has learned.

“Sometimes mass media raise the hype about marginal problems that actually don’t exist and then try to use the context to raise tensions in the society. Those behind these manipulations hold nothing as sacred. The purpose of these manipulations is absolutely clear. They want to drive a wedge between countries and nations. Unfortunately, modern history contains a lot of examples like that,” noted Liliya Ananich. “Belarus does not hold with such policies and such aspirations. Our information space, an absolute majority of Belarusian mass media demonstrate their willingness to cover the most complicated problems of the modern world in a reasonable and productive manner. We will do everything to prevent the national information space from becoming an arena of information wars.”

According to the Information Minister, in his speech during the forum Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko emphasized the historical responsibility of mass media before the society and the need for a constructive stance of mass media. “The rapid development of media space, information and communication technologies have converted the media environment into a core factor of the life of the society and the state. Modern conflicts vividly convince that the temptation to use mass media as a propaganda resource in an information standoff is not a thing of the past. Unfortunately, information provocations are now seen on a daily basis. They form a distorted picture of the world,” stated Liliya Ananich.

She noted that there are many examples when national, confessional, political, social and economic problems with the greatest potential for a conflict are used for destructive purposes. “Such problems exist in many countries and regions, but these matters require an objective articulation by mass media. Solutions to any problems can be found only in a constructive matter. Distortion of facts, pumping of tensions, hunting for enemies always lead to public confrontations and conflicts,” stressed the Belarusian Information Minister.

“Today we are forced to take a fresh look at the system meant to protect our information space. It should be flexible and meet all the requirements of time. Our top priority is to protect citizens from manipulative technologies while preserving the constitutional right of citizens to getting information intact,” stated Liliya Ananich.