OSCE Office-supported conference results in proposals for improvements of licensing of broadcast media in Tajikistan

DUSHANBE, 4 September 2008 - A conference of stakeholders in Tajik TV and radio broadcasting supported by the OSCE Office in Tajikistan has resulted in an open letter released today that urges the President and Parliament to improve the licensing of broadcast media.

The letter, published today in Asia Plus, a leading newspaper in Dushanbe, invites all stakeholders to participate in an open dialogue between the licensing body and broadcasters that are waiting for licenses.

It proposes that civil society and media be part of the dialogue on state media policy. It also suggests preventing monopolization of the media market by having the licensing commission work in a more transparent way. In addition, the letter proposes that a national committee to work out a draft law on Public Broadcasting be created.

"The OSCE Office in Tajikistan shares the concern of the Tajik government and media stakeholders about the competitiveness in quantity and quality of electronic mass media produced and broadcasted in Tajikistan," said Klaus Rasmussen, Deputy Head of the OSCE Office in Tajikistan. "The Office is ready to further support this dialogue."

Muso Asozoda, Head of the Tajik Association of Independent Electronic Media, which developed the text of the letter, added:

"The problems in the licensing process are one of the key obstacles in Tajikistan in order for broadcast media to develop."