OSCE media conference in Kyrgyzstan urges journalists to exercise corrective function

BISHKEK, 18 September 2003 - The fifth OSCE Central Asia Media Conference held in Kyrgyzstan ended today with calls on the media to exercise their corrective function in the economy and politics.
"The media should be able to exercise their corrective function towards the economic interests and activities of politicians and their families without any legal or other consequences", said the Bishkek Declaration adopted by more than 120 participants. "This is essential for the future success of the countries' economic development."
In his opening remarks to the two-day conference, the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Freimut Duve, said that a democratic civil society could only develop if it was based on two pillars: a free media and rule of law.
"In the countries represented at this conference, independent media are struggling in a climate of pressure and constant harassment," Mr. Duve said.
The conference entitled Media in Multi-Cultural and Multi-Lingual Societies, was attended by journalists from the four Central Asian states Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. Other participants included government officials, members of parliament and civil society. Participants from Turkmenistan were not able to attend the conference because they were denied exit visas by the state authorities.
Kyrgyzstan's Parliament Speaker Abdygani Erkebaev and the country's Foreign Minister Askar Aitmatov both delivered opening addresses at the conference.
The event was organized by Mr. Duve and the OSCE Centre in Bishkek in co-operation with the Swiss-based non-governmental organization CIMERA. It was financially supported by the governments of Liechtenstein, Norway, Sweden, the United Kingdom and the United States.