OSCE facilitates reform of government press service in Kyrgyzstan to prevent, resolve conflicts

BISHKEK, 16 December 2013 – Reform of the Government press-service and development of the state information policy in Kyrgyzstan was topic of today’s OSCE-supported conference in Bishkek.

The conference is part of a multi-year initiative undertaken by the OSCE Centre in Bishkek in close co-ordination with Kyrgyzstan’s Parliament and Prime Minister’s Office and in partnership with the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, which aims to help the government press service proactively provide information to the public to prevent tensions and outbreaks of conflicts.

Ambassador Sergey Kapinos, Head of the OSCE Centre in Bishkek, said at the opening of the event: “The ability to provide relevant and reliable information to the general public is the most crucial function of a government press service. Effective communication prevents the spread of rumors, helps curb potential conflict and ultimately strengthens national security.” He added that the OSCE-supported process of reforming the press services would raise the overall level of trust and enhance co-operation between the government and general public.

In 2013, in close co-ordination with the working group of the Kyrgyz Parliamentary committee on education, science and sport, three OSCE-supported international experts analyzed the current status of the state press service and developed a set of legal recommendations to reform the work of the press-service. They covered  areas such as the official status and attestation process for the spokespersons, operating policies and procedures for providing information to the general public, co-ordination between central and provincial administrations, as well as crisis communication. These recommendations formed the basis for today’s discussions with the participation of some 60 high-ranking Kyrgyz officials, representatives of civil society and international organizations.

In his opening remarks, Vice Prime Minister of Kyrgyzstan Tokon Mamytov said: “Implementation of the press service reform is one of the priorities of the Kyrgyz government and is an unalienable part of the nation’s information security concept. Enhancing government’s public outreach and communication capacities especially during crisis situations is instrumental for boosting public confidence and national security.”

In 2014, OSCE is planning to continue providing technical and legal expertise to the Parliament of the Kyrgyz Republic to reform the press service to contribute to strengthening the government’s policies related to information security and freedom of information.