OSCE Centre continues support in modernizing media legislation in Turkmenistan

ASHGABAT, 12 June 2014 – Law-makers and representatives of institutions dealing with media and Internet issues in Turkmenistan discussed best practices in drafting legislation on Internet and Internet media at an OSCE-organized roundtable discussion that concluded in Ashgabat today.

The OSCE Centre in Ashgabat organized the two-day event to provide further assistance in drafting national legislation addressing Internet media and access to the Internet in order to ensure its compliance with OSCE commitments and international standards while reflecting on the development of modern technologies.

In his opening address, Ambassador Ivo Petrov, Head of the OSCE Centre in Ashgabat noted that the Ashgabat Declaration adopted by participants of the 14th Central Asia Media Conference, held in 2012, highlighted the actual opportunities offered by the Internet and its important role as a tool to seek, receive, produce and distribute information.

“Today’s event concludes a series of roundtables that the OSCE Centre in Ashgabat has organized to facilitate the exchange of expertise on the legal regulation of the Internet and Internet media,” said Ambassador Petrov.

The roundtable summarized discussions held as part of two previous events and addressed topics such as principles of regulating Internet relations, right to access to Internet, right to access to information on the activities of state authorities, and commercial aspects of Internet regulation.

“I strongly believe that these activities will be of practical use for Turkmenistan’s law-makers and other stakeholders engaged in drafting the law of Turkmenistan on Internet and Internet services,” added Ambassador Petrov. “The Centre stands ready to continue this co-operation and address other aspects related to the modernization of the country’s media legislation."