Baku: Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan, hosted the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit on September 1, transforming the city into a focal point for international diplomacy. For a day, Bishkek became the political center of a vast region, with delegates from various countries converging to discuss cooperation within the SCO.
According to Azeri-Press News Agency, the summit’s extensive security measures were immediately noticeable, with barriers, police posts, and checkpoints delineating the event’s perimeter. Inside, diplomatic protocols governed interactions, while outside, journalists raced against time to relay developments to the world, underscoring the media’s crucial role in bridging the summit with global audiences.
The summit commenced with a closed-door meeting among the heads of state of SCO member countries. This initial stage served as a vital platform for discussing cooperation, regional issues, and future interaction areas within the organization. Journalists, stationed at the media center, awaited official statements and swiftly prepared reports to keep the public informed.
The summit transitioned to the SCO Plus format, inviting broader participation from other countries and international organizations. This expanded the scope of discussions, both politically and geographically. As leaders articulated their positions in the summit hall, journalists distilled these discussions into concise news reports.
A key highlight was the address by Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, who emphasized the significance of a recently signed Treaty on Allied Relations with Kyrgyzstan. He also highlighted progress in the South Caucasus, noting a peace agreement between Azerbaijan and Armenia and calling for mechanisms to expedite UN Security Council resolutions. President Aliyev reaffirmed Azerbaijan’s commitment to multilateralism, a sentiment echoed by Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov.
The summit’s media center was a hive of activity, with over 500 journalists from around the globe, including Azerbaijani media representatives, covering the event. Equipped with a dedicated workspace, journalists captured, processed, and disseminated news in multiple languages, ensuring the summit’s developments reached an international audience.
Journalists were provided a designated area for breaks, where they enjoyed a selection of Kyrgyz and international cuisine. However, the pursuit of news was relentless, with conversations often revolving around the day’s events and preparations for upcoming assignments.
As the summit concluded, the media center remained active, verifying information, finalizing reports, and dispatching content to newsrooms. The Bishkek Summit highlighted the intricate interplay between diplomacy and media, with political discussions and media activities driving the event’s dynamic narrative.