The first Asia-Pacific and Europe Media Dialogue 2006, organized by the Asia-Pacific Institute for Broadcasting Development and the European Broadcasting Union, opened at UNESCO, in Paris, on 11 September. Some 330 delegates are attending this conference.

Following opening addresses from Mogens Schmidt, UNESCO deputy assistant director-general for communication and information, Richard Boidin, director of external broadcasting at the French Foreign Ministry, Javad Mottaghi, Director, Asia-Pacific Institute for Broadcasting Development and Jean Réveillon, secretary general of the EBU and conference chair, the participants attended two sessions.

The first session, entitled "Media and cultural diversity", was chaired by UN Under-Secretary-General for Public Information  Shashi Tharoor , and looked at media, minorities and mediation and ways in which broadcasters can ensure their reporting leads to greater mutual knowledge, respect for cultural diversity, freedom of expression and tolerance. 

Debates in the second session focused on the issue of public service broadcasting and independence and asked whether the media would ever be free from state or market control and also looked at media ethics and standards in the information society.

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