Shusha: D-8 Secretary General Ambassador Sohail Mahmood has underscored the vital role of responsible journalism in promoting peace, restoring public trust and countering misinformation, as he participated in the 4th Shusha Global Media Forum in Azerbaijan alongside leading media professionals, policymakers and academics from around the world.
Held on July 13-14 under the theme “The Mission of the Media in Promoting Peace: Restoring Truth and Rebuilding Trust,” the international forum brought together 160 prominent media leaders, senior government officials, scholars and communication experts from more than 50 countries to discuss the rapidly evolving global information landscape.
Ambassador Sohail Mahmood described it as a privilege to participate in the high-profile gathering, noting that the forum provided an important platform for exchanging ideas on the challenges and opportunities confronting the global media industry.
Discussions focused on the transformative impact of emerging technologies, particularly artificial intelligence, the growing challenge of misinformation and disinformation, and the responsibility of media organisations to uphold professional standards while fostering public confidence in an increasingly complex information environment.
The D-8 Secretary General highlighted the importance of credible, ethical and responsible journalism in strengthening dialogue among nations, supporting informed public discourse and contributing to international peace and stability.
One of the key highlights of the forum was a three-hour high-level interactive session with President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan, during which the Azerbaijani leader shared his country’s foreign policy priorities and offered detailed perspectives on major regional and international developments.
Ambassador Sohail Mahmood described the session as highly insightful, saying it provided participants with a comprehensive understanding of Azerbaijan’s diplomatic outlook and its approach to evolving geopolitical challenges.
Following the session, Ambassador Sohail Mahmood met President Aliyev and conveyed his appreciation for Azerbaijan’s active contributions to the Developing Eight (D-8) Organization for Economic Cooperation since becoming a full member in 2025.
He thanked the Azerbaijani president for his leadership and support in advancing the D-8’s objectives of promoting economic cooperation, trade, investment and sustainable development among member states.
Ambassador Sohail Mahmood reaffirmed the D-8 Secretariat’s commitment to strengthening collaboration with Azerbaijan and other member countries in pursuit of shared economic prosperity, regional connectivity and international cooperation.
The Shusha Global Media Forum has emerged as one of Azerbaijan’s leading international platforms for dialogue on media, communication and global affairs, bringing together influential voices from across the world to examine the evolving role of journalism in addressing contemporary geopolitical, technological and societal challenges.
The participation of the D-8 Secretary General reflected the organisation’s growing engagement in international discussions on media, diplomacy and global governance, while reinforcing its commitment to fostering dialogue, mutual understanding and cooperation among its member states and the wider international community.
