By Elena Teslova
MOSCOW (AA) - BRICS+ Information and Cultural Media Center began work Tuesday in Moscow, ahead of a leaders’ summit next week.
The opening was attended by Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova, Director General of TV BRICS Zhanna Tolstikova, Director General of the Library of Foreign Literature Pavel Kuzmin, as well as representatives of various countries and the media.
Speaking at the opening of the center, which aims to promote global dialogue and cooperation in the humanitarian and cultural spheres, culture, mass media, science and education, Zakharova called its establishment "a step towards the development of humanitarian cooperation between the BRICS countries and beyond."
She expressed hope that it would contribute to the integration of cultures and provide the global community with reliable information, noting that one of its tasks was opposing fake news.
Kuzmin said upcoming events in the center will focus on finding and highlighting common features that unite the traditions and cultures of BRICS members.
"This will be an effective response to the ongoing attempts to divide and push into conflict countries around the world through fake news and disinformation," he said.
Meanwhile, Anadolu Agency's Moscow Bureau Chief Correspondent and Deputy Director for Asia and Caucasus News Ali Cura took part in a panel discussion where he noted that in parallel with the development of technology, new media have an effect that divides societies and causes hostility, and as a result, the problem of "disinformation and discrimination" is spreading like a virus, especially on social networks, influencing traditional media.
Explaining that much of the responsibility for false news lies with the media, Cura said that for this purpose, Anadolu Agency created a "discrimination hotline" and a "confirmation hotline."
"Racial discrimination, gender inequality, hate speech, Islamophobia and xenophobia have reached their peak in recent years due to the influence of the media. Our projects were created to combat all forms of discrimination in the world. We strive to be a platform that becomes the voice of people who have the right to live with dignity," he said.
Cura also said the "confirmation hotline" is checking suspicious news and publishes it with reliable proof.
He stressed that the work of BRICS media may contribute to moving toward the establishment of a multi-voiced, multicultural, powerful and objective media platform and system.
The center was established by the Russian International Media Network TV BRICS and the Russian State Library of Foreign Literature.