OSCE promotes discussion on Internet-related issues in Central Asia

ALMATY, Kazakhstan,18 May 2012 – A two-day regional forum on the Internet in Central Asia, co-organized by the OSCE Centre in Astana, began in Almaty today.

The Third Central Asian Internet Development Forum brought together some 100 participants, including media experts and journalists from Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Lithuania, Tajikistan, Ukraine and Uzbekistan, as well as representatives of Kazakhstan’s government, non-governmental and international organizations and diplomatic missions.

Participants will discuss a variety of topics related to the Internet and freedom of expression, government regulation of the Internet, business aspects of the Internet, local electronic media content, and web resources in national languages. They will also focus on the challenges of developing the Internet as one of the few unrestricted sources of information, and exchange views about potential threats to the free flow of online information.

“The Internet provides extensive opportunities for freedom of expression and citizen’s right to be heard. It is also a means to promote democratic values and helps to build a well informed and responsible civil society. Any law that regulates the Internet should not limit fundamental human rights such as freedom of speech and access to information,” said Ambassador Natalia Zarudna, the Head of the OSCE Centre in Astana.

Adil Jalilov, the Chair of the Media Alliance of Kazakhstan, added: “The Internet and information technologies are the fastest growing sector of the economy worldwide. And Central Asia is not an exception in this regard. It must be noted however, that there are also some problems in the region, including the blocking of sites and filtering of content, censorship, and legislative barriers. These and other topics of relevance to the region are being discussed at today’s forum, which has come to be known as a unique platform for comprehensive and focused discussions.”

Issues raised during the forum’s panel discussions will be used to formulate a set of recommendations for the further development of the Internet in the region. The recommendations will be distributed to government agencies and other interested parties.

The forum is the third such event co-organized by the OSCE Centre in Astana, the MediaNet International Centre of Journalism, the Soros Foundation-Kazakhstan and the Konrad Adenauer Foundation.