Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06DUSHANBE1498
2006-08-04 11:51:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Dushanbe
Cable title:
RADIO SILENCE CONTINUES FOR BBC IN TAJIKISTAN
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C O N F I D E N T I A L DUSHANBE 001498
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN, DRL
E.O. 12958: DECL: 8/4/2016
TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM TI
SUBJECT: RADIO SILENCE CONTINUES FOR BBC IN TAJIKISTAN
REF: DUSHANBE 304
CLASSIFIED BY: Tom Hushek, CdA, U.S. Embassy, Dushanbe, State.
REASON: 1.4 (d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L DUSHANBE 001498
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN, DRL
E.O. 12958: DECL: 8/4/2016
TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM TI
SUBJECT: RADIO SILENCE CONTINUES FOR BBC IN TAJIKISTAN
REF: DUSHANBE 304
CLASSIFIED BY: Tom Hushek, CdA, U.S. Embassy, Dushanbe, State.
REASON: 1.4 (d)
1. (SBU) Tajikistan's State Radio and Television Committee
(SRTC) announced August 2 it refused to give BBC a license to
broadcast in Tajiki/ Farsi on FM radio. Margaret Belof, the
British DCM, told PolOff August 3 the committee based its
refusal on two grounds: the BBC is still not properly registered
with the Ministry of Justice, and no agreement exists between
the Tajik and British governments on television and radio
broadcasting.
2. (SBU) The Tajik government stopped BBC broadcasts in
January due to registration problems (reftel). The MOJ
reregistered BBC June 26, but BBC needs to obtain a new
broadcasting license from the SRTC. Belof did not go into the
details of the registration issue, stating only that, "We think
they are wrong-all the papers are in order and BBC is now
legally registered."
3. (C) First Deputy Head of SRTC Abdurakhmon Abdumannonov told
media sources, "According to the Tajik media law (passed in
November 2005),no foreign radio station has the right to
broadcast on the territory of Tajikistan without the
corresponding intergovernmental or interstate agreement." Belof
observed that Great Britain has no intergovernmental
broadcasting agreements with any other country in the world, nor
do other counties usually make these kinds of agreements. "Only
Russia has this agreement with Tajikistan," she noted, and the
conditions of the Russian agreement would be impossible for BBC
to accept.
4. (C) Belof commented that Tajik authorities still did not
understand that BBC is not a state-owned branch of the British
government, but an independent news service. The British
Embassy is drafting a memorandum of understanding, explaining
the special status of the BBC. (COMMENT: The BBC's decision to
push for a MOU seems only one step away from an official
agreement with the Tajik government, and may be a very
legalistic way around the law. END COMMENT.) Belof suggested
that if working level BBC representatives could not reach an
agreement with the Tajik government, the Director of BBC World
Service would travel to Tajikistan to continue talks. The BBC is
still broadcasting on shortwave radio.
5. (SBU) COMMENT: Tajikistan doesn't make it easy for any
radio or TV stations to broadcast. The dual requirements of
registration and licensing have dramatically slowed several
U.S.-funded community radio and television projects. As a
result, most Tajik audiences are stuck watching Tajik state
television or listening to state radio, if not watching Russian
stations on satellite. However, the situation with BBC suggests
Tajik authorities are increasingly fearful of any outside or
independent broadcasts, and will use all means, often disguised
as any reason possible bureaucratic formalities, to control
content on the airwaves. At a time when the United States is
pressing Tajikistan for freer media for opposition candidates
leading up the November Presidential election, it seems unlikely
the environment is going to improve. END COMMENT.
HUSHEK
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN, DRL
E.O. 12958: DECL: 8/4/2016
TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM TI
SUBJECT: RADIO SILENCE CONTINUES FOR BBC IN TAJIKISTAN
REF: DUSHANBE 304
CLASSIFIED BY: Tom Hushek, CdA, U.S. Embassy, Dushanbe, State.
REASON: 1.4 (d)
1. (SBU) Tajikistan's State Radio and Television Committee
(SRTC) announced August 2 it refused to give BBC a license to
broadcast in Tajiki/ Farsi on FM radio. Margaret Belof, the
British DCM, told PolOff August 3 the committee based its
refusal on two grounds: the BBC is still not properly registered
with the Ministry of Justice, and no agreement exists between
the Tajik and British governments on television and radio
broadcasting.
2. (SBU) The Tajik government stopped BBC broadcasts in
January due to registration problems (reftel). The MOJ
reregistered BBC June 26, but BBC needs to obtain a new
broadcasting license from the SRTC. Belof did not go into the
details of the registration issue, stating only that, "We think
they are wrong-all the papers are in order and BBC is now
legally registered."
3. (C) First Deputy Head of SRTC Abdurakhmon Abdumannonov told
media sources, "According to the Tajik media law (passed in
November 2005),no foreign radio station has the right to
broadcast on the territory of Tajikistan without the
corresponding intergovernmental or interstate agreement." Belof
observed that Great Britain has no intergovernmental
broadcasting agreements with any other country in the world, nor
do other counties usually make these kinds of agreements. "Only
Russia has this agreement with Tajikistan," she noted, and the
conditions of the Russian agreement would be impossible for BBC
to accept.
4. (C) Belof commented that Tajik authorities still did not
understand that BBC is not a state-owned branch of the British
government, but an independent news service. The British
Embassy is drafting a memorandum of understanding, explaining
the special status of the BBC. (COMMENT: The BBC's decision to
push for a MOU seems only one step away from an official
agreement with the Tajik government, and may be a very
legalistic way around the law. END COMMENT.) Belof suggested
that if working level BBC representatives could not reach an
agreement with the Tajik government, the Director of BBC World
Service would travel to Tajikistan to continue talks. The BBC is
still broadcasting on shortwave radio.
5. (SBU) COMMENT: Tajikistan doesn't make it easy for any
radio or TV stations to broadcast. The dual requirements of
registration and licensing have dramatically slowed several
U.S.-funded community radio and television projects. As a
result, most Tajik audiences are stuck watching Tajik state
television or listening to state radio, if not watching Russian
stations on satellite. However, the situation with BBC suggests
Tajik authorities are increasingly fearful of any outside or
independent broadcasts, and will use all means, often disguised
as any reason possible bureaucratic formalities, to control
content on the airwaves. At a time when the United States is
pressing Tajikistan for freer media for opposition candidates
leading up the November Presidential election, it seems unlikely
the environment is going to improve. END COMMENT.
HUSHEK