The conference "Resilient Democracies in the Information Age: Nordic Perspectives on Combating Disinformation and Strengthening Societal Resilience" was held, which brought together institutional and diplomatic representatives to discuss the contemporary challenges of disinformation and ways to strengthen democracy in an increasingly complex information environment, reports Ekonomia Online.
The Ambassador of Finland to Kosovo, Eevamari Laaksonen, in her speech emphasized the importance of building an informed society resistant to information manipulation, also bringing illustrative examples from Finnish culture and history.
“Let me start by taking you back to 1965, in the Baltic Sea. In her book, Tove Jansson talks about a family in the Moomin Valley, about a move to an unknown island. And on this island, everything is uncertain, the rules are not clear and, and the sense of reality no longer exists as we knew it before. The family has difficulty understanding what I see…, to distinguish between reality and interpretation and the ambiguity that surrounds them. Everything seemed to be turned upside down in such a way that we are now. Today's challenges are similar to these moments. Our information environment is today… the information environment is so fragmented that it requires us to interpret what to believe and what not. Now, on a personal level, we are all living this, also in terms of international manipulation of information.”
"And then, there is the breakdown of trust in the reality on which democracy depends. This reality is not new. Our ability to respond to these threats directly affects the defense of democracy. This requires not only strong leadership, but also informed and engaged citizens."
She said that "our security is influenced by how we navigate the digital space and how we react to manipulation."
“Our democracies are defined by our ability to adapt, to learn, to think critically and to engage responsibly with information. Many countries have understood this much earlier. Finland, for example, since its independence in 1917, had great uncertainty and chose to invest in its people. By having a civil society, but also by having media, this long-term investment has paid off. Our democracies are resilient, not because we limit information, but because the citizens of these democracies are able to distinguish between accurate information and disinformation. Every country has its own challenges, every country has its own history. But Finland stands as an important example of how a young democracy can grow and mature in the face of different challenges in the information space,” she said.
Meanwhile, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Diaspora, Glauk Konjufca, spoke about the concrete challenges that Kosovo faces in relation to disinformation and emphasized the importance of institutional and international cooperation.
“Let me first express our sincere appreciation to the Nordic Council of Ministers and the Embassies and Honorary Consulates in general for this important gathering. Your continued engagement in Kosovo speaks volumes about the strong partnership built on shared values and mutual trust. We meet in an era where the information environment has become a defining dimension of the importance of democratic stability. Disinformation and information influence are no longer marginal challenges; they are deliberate, often organized and supported efforts aimed at undermining trust in institutions, distorting public debate and creating uncertainty within our societies.
For Kosovo, this is not a distant concern. We continue to face disinformation campaigns coming mainly from Russia and Serbia, which seek to undermine our statehood, misrepresent our reality and domestic and international perception. These challenges are part of a broader continuum that affects the resilience of democracies across our region. In response, no single institution can provide a complete answer. Building resilience requires a comprehensive and sustained effort that brings together public institutions, independent media, civil society and citizens. In this regard, the experience of the Nordic countries offers important guidance across the region.
Resilience is strengthened through education, transparency, accountability, with a strong emphasis on media literacy and then social awareness. Kosovo is committed to advancing in this direction. We are working to strengthen our institutional communication, improve coordination and support an environment where accurate information and responsible journalism can flourish, can develop further. At the same time, we understand that long-term resilience depends on a society that is critically engaged and I understand that this conference will contribute in a meaningful way”, said Konjufca./EO/
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