Good morning. In times of conflict and crisis such as we are witnessing now, the media are at their best when they serve as the voice of reason and balance, when they strive so far as possible to be nonpartisan and stand for the interest of all humanity. The responsibility of journalism during this time is simply stated. It is, first of all, to provide balanced and accurate coverage of events as they happen and issues as they arise so that citizens can form intelligent opinions and guide the actions and policies of their governments.

Second, the media provides a service in keeping the channels of communications open to all sides during times of conflict. The point is that even when the communicator is Osama Bin Laden, it is better for the public to know what he is thinking or doing than not.

Third, the media serves by providing a forum for intelligent debate of issues concerning the conflict. The limitations of U.S. policy regarding Iraq and the war on terror and the benefits of internationalizing the effort would not have emerged without this crucial service of the media. Equally, the media can serve as a forum for the discussion of insights like that of Dr. Samuel Huntington, who believes that what we are witnessing now is the first phase of what he calls the clash of civilizations and cultures.

Finally, the media by being scrupulously fair and nonpartisan can be an instrument for the resolution of conflict itself, such as when they serve as a channel for dialog or when the media’s good offices are utilized by warring sides in forging a truce. It is no accident that in times of conflict the media often is perceived like the Red Cross. They can enter the front lines of conflict and be respected. Of course, it is not always like that. Sometimes members of the media can fall victim to the conflict itself, as we have seen in Iraq and Afghanistan.

But we can quickly see what problems can arise when the media abandons the policy of nonpartisanship, either by taking sides in the conflict or by opposing the policies of other governments. In such instances the professionalism of the media is compromised and consequently its credibility and influence. The travails of the British Broadcasting Corporation in the United Kingdom, for instance, provide us an insight into what happens when nonpartisanship is sacrificed. Because of its opposition to British occupation to the war in Iraq, the BBC was led to make certain allegations against the Blair government that were proven unfounded in a subsequent inquiry. This damaged the BBC and led to the resignations of its top officials.

The policies of the conservative media in the U.S. and Al Jazeera in the Middle East are also two faces of the same coin of partisanship. Instead of being impartial observers of the conflict, they appear to be participants, pursuing an outcome that each respectively desires. There are also problems that arise from the efforts of media organizations to drive up ratings and commercialize their coverage. The saga of Jack Kelly of USA Today, who fabricated stories while covering conflicts in the Middle East and Asia, reminds us that even the most reputable media organizations of the West fall prey to excess.

But despite these excesses and educational failures, by and large media organizations all over the world have provided balanced coverage of the conflicts of Iraq, Afghanistan and the war on terror. The international community owes to the media what understanding and enlightenment it has today of the situations on these fronts. Absent the services of the media we probably wouldn’t know where we are today and how elusive is the winning of the peace after the fall of Saddam Hussein.

In the outstanding work that remains in bringing the conflict to resolution, I would say that the responsibility of the media should remain basically the same: being an impartial and careful observer. It should show up the shortcomings of policy without itself becoming the advocate of a specific policy. The media can help in the building of a truly global alliance for peace by reporting accurately and responsibly on events. I thank you.