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OSCE welcomes decision on changes to media law in Kazakhstan
ALMATY 1 February 2001
ALMATY, 1 February 2001 - The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Centre in Almaty welcomes the decision to postpone the discussion in the Parliament of the amendments proposed by the Government of Kazakhstan to the "Law on the Mass Media." The Centre commends the important role played by the civil society in Kazakhstan, in particular journalists and the NGO community, in influencing this decision.
The OSCE Centre in Almaty recalls the OSCE commitment undertaken at the Moscow meeting in 1991 and subscribed to by the Republic of Kazakhstan when it became a participating state in 1992 which states the following: "Legislation will be formulated and adopted as the result of an open process reflecting the will of the people, either directly or through their elected representatives."
Mass media are a vital part of every democracy. The participating states recognized in Moscow 1991 "that independent media are essential to a free and open society and accountable systems of government and are of particular importance in safeguarding human rights and fundamental freedoms." That is why the "Law on the Mass Media" is of crucial importance for society and the country as a whole. Consequently, its adoption should be the result of a discussion as public and wide as possible, and the Centre encourages civil society to continue its efforts in this direction.
Concerning the proposed amendments to the Law, the Centre reiterates that it firmly believes that developing a more diverse and embracing media landscape cannot be achieved by limiting the freedom of expression and the citizens' right to access to information, but only by encouraging the further development of the mass media through economic and political stimuli and permanent provision of information by state bodies.
All OSCE participating states have repeatedly committed themselves to guarantee the freedom of expression, most recently in the Charter for European Security 1999: "We commit ourselves to take all necessary steps to ensure the basic conditions for free and independent media and unimpeded transborder and intra-State flow of information, which we consider to be an essential component of any democratic, free and open society."
The OSCE Centre in Almaty stands ready to take part in the further discussion of the amendments to the law on mass media and to provide international expertise and information on best practices in other participating States.
For more information contact, please contact the OSCE Centre in Almaty, tel.: (+7-3272) 62 17 62, fax: (+7-3272) 62 43 85, e-mail:osce@nursat.kz
The OSCE Centre in Almaty recalls the OSCE commitment undertaken at the Moscow meeting in 1991 and subscribed to by the Republic of Kazakhstan when it became a participating state in 1992 which states the following: "Legislation will be formulated and adopted as the result of an open process reflecting the will of the people, either directly or through their elected representatives."
Mass media are a vital part of every democracy. The participating states recognized in Moscow 1991 "that independent media are essential to a free and open society and accountable systems of government and are of particular importance in safeguarding human rights and fundamental freedoms." That is why the "Law on the Mass Media" is of crucial importance for society and the country as a whole. Consequently, its adoption should be the result of a discussion as public and wide as possible, and the Centre encourages civil society to continue its efforts in this direction.
Concerning the proposed amendments to the Law, the Centre reiterates that it firmly believes that developing a more diverse and embracing media landscape cannot be achieved by limiting the freedom of expression and the citizens' right to access to information, but only by encouraging the further development of the mass media through economic and political stimuli and permanent provision of information by state bodies.
All OSCE participating states have repeatedly committed themselves to guarantee the freedom of expression, most recently in the Charter for European Security 1999: "We commit ourselves to take all necessary steps to ensure the basic conditions for free and independent media and unimpeded transborder and intra-State flow of information, which we consider to be an essential component of any democratic, free and open society."
The OSCE Centre in Almaty stands ready to take part in the further discussion of the amendments to the law on mass media and to provide international expertise and information on best practices in other participating States.
For more information contact, please contact the OSCE Centre in Almaty, tel.: (+7-3272) 62 17 62, fax: (+7-3272) 62 43 85, e-mail:osce@nursat.kz