Newsroom
OSCE welcomes latest decision on media law in Kazakhstan
ALMATY 16 March 2001
ALMATY, 16 March 2001 - The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Centre in Almaty, Kazakhstan, welcomes the decision adopted by the Mazhilis (Lower House) of the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan at its plenary session on 14 March to return for further elaboration amendments to the draft law on mass media.
This decision illustrates the understanding by Mazhilis deputies of the need to pass or reject the amendments proposed by the Government only following detailed and open discussions which take into account the opinion of society at large.
The OSCE Centre in Almaty, which in accordance with its mandate supports the development of civil society in Kazakhstan, calls attention to the positive and in many ways decisive role played by representatives of civil society, including non-governmental organizations and journalists, in influencing this decision. Regional NGO Forums conducted in the course of the past month in nine regions of Kazakhstan clearly demonstrated that an open civil society entails the right of each citizen to express an opinion on matters that concern his or her interests; the right to be heard by state structures; and the right to participate actively in the decision-making process.
Concerning the proposed amendments to the Law, the Centre recalls the conclusions reached by Dr. Karol Jakubowicz of the University of Warsaw Institute of Journalism in his "Analysis and Comments on Amendments to the Law of the Republic of Kazakhstan on Mass Media" prepared at the request of the OSCE Centre in Almaty.
In particular, with regard to the proposal to limit rebroadcasting of foreign programming, Dr. Jakubowicz writes, " this proposal should be seriously reconsidered because it is disproportionate; may reduce rather than enhance diversity in Kazakh language broadcasting; and is not necessary in a democratic society." Dr. Jakubowicz also questions the equation mark introduced by the amendments between mass media and Internet web sites, and recommends that the requirement for registration of web sites be removed entirely.
The OSCE Centre in Almaty stands ready to take part in further discussion of the amendments to the "Law on Mass Media" and hopes that the Parliament will consider carefully both international "best practices" and the views expressed by civil society in Kazakhstan during further elaboration of the draft law and the resulting discussions and Parliamentary vote.
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
This decision illustrates the understanding by Mazhilis deputies of the need to pass or reject the amendments proposed by the Government only following detailed and open discussions which take into account the opinion of society at large.
The OSCE Centre in Almaty, which in accordance with its mandate supports the development of civil society in Kazakhstan, calls attention to the positive and in many ways decisive role played by representatives of civil society, including non-governmental organizations and journalists, in influencing this decision. Regional NGO Forums conducted in the course of the past month in nine regions of Kazakhstan clearly demonstrated that an open civil society entails the right of each citizen to express an opinion on matters that concern his or her interests; the right to be heard by state structures; and the right to participate actively in the decision-making process.
Concerning the proposed amendments to the Law, the Centre recalls the conclusions reached by Dr. Karol Jakubowicz of the University of Warsaw Institute of Journalism in his "Analysis and Comments on Amendments to the Law of the Republic of Kazakhstan on Mass Media" prepared at the request of the OSCE Centre in Almaty.
In particular, with regard to the proposal to limit rebroadcasting of foreign programming, Dr. Jakubowicz writes, " this proposal should be seriously reconsidered because it is disproportionate; may reduce rather than enhance diversity in Kazakh language broadcasting; and is not necessary in a democratic society." Dr. Jakubowicz also questions the equation mark introduced by the amendments between mass media and Internet web sites, and recommends that the requirement for registration of web sites be removed entirely.
The OSCE Centre in Almaty stands ready to take part in further discussion of the amendments to the "Law on Mass Media" and hopes that the Parliament will consider carefully both international "best practices" and the views expressed by civil society in Kazakhstan during further elaboration of the draft law and the resulting discussions and Parliamentary vote.
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