TAJIKISTAN: WORLD PRESS FREEDOM DAY EVENTS

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 DUSHANBE 000840

SIPDIS

SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN, SCA/PPD, R, S/P, DRL

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM KPAO KDEM TI
SUBJECT: TAJIKISTAN: WORLD PRESS FREEDOM DAY EVENTS

REF: A) STATE 68819 B) DUSHANBE 0704

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1. SUMMARY: Embassy Dushanbe marked World Press Freedom Day
with an on-line press conference with the Ambassador answering
questions from Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Russia. The
Ambassador also participated in a World Press Freedom Day
roundtable hosted by Internews, the Institute for War and Peace
Reporting, and the National Association of Independent Media of
Tajikistan at the President's Strategic Research Center.
Despite ever increasing pressure from Russia to control Western
influence in Tajikistan, these two events indicate Tajikistan
continues its balancing act. For Avesta, with some ties to the
government, to give the Ambassador a platform to answer
questions from not only Tajikistan but also from the CIS, has to
be seen as a plus. Even more interesting is that the
President's think tank hosted a free-wheeling roundtable that
included U.S. and other pro-democracy NGOs, as well as an
implacable opposition figure. We continue to believe these
kinds of government-approved events represent a lively debate
within the government between the old-guard neo-Soviets and the
reformers who have a much broader view of the modern world.
It's easy to focus on negative headlines, but we need to remain
realistic optimists and stay the course to promote
transfromational diplomacy. END SUMMARY


2. The Ambassador participated May 2 in a first for Tajikistan,
an international on-line press conference. Avesta News Agency,
independent but with links to the government, hosted and
moderated the event. During two hours on-line, the Ambassador
answered numerous questions regarding freedom of the press in
the United States and Tajikistan, as well as other policy issues
in Tajikistan and the region.


3. The Reporters without Borders ranking of the U.S. press
freedom at 44 in the world, down from 24 the prvious year
(largely because of the jailing of Judith Miller of the "New
York Times," generated questions on whether that ranking
represented the true state of media freedom in the United
States. U.S. funding for media NGOs raised other questions, one
asking why the U.S. government did not view this as interference
in a country's internal affairs. The Ambassador noted that
support for responsible, independent media helps build civil
society, which is a requirement for a democratic state, which
President Rahmonov himself has said is his goal.


4. Other questions asked the Ambassador's opinion about an
inflammatory Moscow-based Tajik opposition newspaper, his views
on developments in Uzbekistan (which by diplomatic tradition he
declined to answer directly),and his take on various regional
web sites, including the controversial
.


5. The full transcript of the press conference will be
published in Avesta's new local newspaper, and is available in
Russian language at http://sngnews.ru/conference/info/6.html.

AMBASSADOR ENCOURAGES GREATER MEDIA INDEPENDENCE


6. On May 3, the Ambassador participated in a media roundtable
with journalists, publishers, government officials, political
scientists, and civil-society representatives at the World Press
Freedom Day roundtable organized by Internews, the Institute for
War and Peace Reporting, and the National Association of
Independent Media of Tajikistan at the President's Strategic
Research Center.


7. As the only keynote speaker (a senior government
representative from the President's office was scheduled to
speak but passed the buck to one of his subordinates who had a
"family emergency"),the Ambassador congratulated Tajikistan's
journalists for their efforts to bring to light issues ranging

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from corruption to trafficking in persons to labor migration,
and praised the Tajik journalists' hard work towards creating a
more independent and responsible press in Tajikistan. He also
reminded the audience that Tajikistan has further to go to
create a free environment where journalists can work without
fear of harassment, intimidation, or retribution.


8. Several journalists challenged the Ambassador's view that
the press is relatively free in Tajikistan. In reply, he
pointed to the various lively political points of view that
appear in print, and re-emphasized that the press is
"relatively" free. The journalists persisted and asked if the
Ambassador was unaware of "government advice to the media" and
"paid for articles," as well as occasional direct censorship.
He responded that he is well aware of these negatives, and
regrets them, but views these as problems to overcome, not
reasons for condemnation.


9. The Ambassador pointed out that a presidential election year
means Tajikistan has a significant opportunity to show its
citizens and the world it is committed to the highest
international standards of freedom of the media. He called for
equal and fair access to the media for all presidential
candidates as a vital part of an election process that would
meet international standards.


10. In a year when the international community will be watching
particularly closely, it would be opportune, the Ambassador
proposed, for the government to register a national, independent
television station. He noted, without naming it (in fact, it is
Asia-Plus),that one media organization has had such a request
for registration pending for over two years, which is much, much
too long, knowing that a transcript of anything he says in
public reaches the President and the Ministry of Security. He
called on the government to act favorably on this request. The
Ambassador further stressed the importance of making the
registration process transparent for all media organizations.

A RANGE OF VIEWS AND A LOT OF COOKS IN THE KITCHEN


11. The ensuing discussion during the roundtable demonstrated a
truly free exchange of clashing points of view. Some
journalists, political scientists, and NGOs criticized the
government's refusal to register newspapers and other media
outlets (except those it approves of),as well as its censorship
and pressure on journalists. One political scientist pointed
out that by developing strong independent mass media the
government can actually strengthen itself.


12. Rajab Mirzo, opposition gadfly and political hothead,
former editor of the banned "Ruzi Nav" newspaper that saw as its
raison d'etre to attack and overthrow President Rahmonov, posed
a series of ironic questions that boiled down to, "If it can
happen to me, it can happen to you. Stop trying to cooperate!"


13. The head of the Republican Bureau for Human Rights called
for journalists to unite. A journalist from Radio Free
Europe/Radio Liberty called on journalists themselves to promote
their own rights and freedoms, instead of relying on the U.S.
Ambassador or international organizations to intervene with the
government to build democracy.


14. An elderly journalist attached to President Rahmonov's
office called for a new journalists' union. (COMMENT: The
current journalists' union was recently suspended, probably for
good, which is no great loss, since it was an old
Soviet-dinosaur of an organization that the younger generation
ignored. See ref B. END COMMENT). The official also
reminded the roundtable that "professionalism" in journalism
means that journalists should first respect the law. "If you

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understand and follow the law, you won't have trouble."


15. A businessman who owns a number of newspapers said that
journalists should not be revolutionaries. Journalism is a
business, and independent media have to be profitable to
continue to exist. He said that journalists should be like good
cooks. When cooking "plov," Tajiksitan's national rice pilaf,
they should know how to add the right amount of water and not
let the pot boil over. The businessman suggested journalists
need to understand the limits of their freedoms, and should not
unnecessarily stir up conflict for conflict's sake or for
egotistic satisfaction. Another participant pointed out
covering conflicting views could be dangerous because reporters
cannot be objective when they have their own hot opinions.
"They must express themselves!" Another questioned, "What will
we get from freedom? We will simply abuse each other.
Restrictions keep us straight." (COMMENT: In this view,
personal responsibility does not exist. Instead, the
paterialistic state keeps everyone in line with its rules and
punishments. END COMMENT.)


16. The articulate Tajik representative of the Open Society
Institute (OSI) lamented that Tajik journalists seldom take
advantage of free training seminars in Dushanbe, and places
regularly go begging. But when OSI announces opportunities for
training programs abroad, it is swamped with applications, she
noted.


17. COMMENT: Tajikistan teeters on the high wire of "benign
authoritarianism," and free and independent media are one of the
tipping points. Despite ever increasing pressure from Russia to
control -- and, ideally, eliminate -- Western influence in
Tajikistan, these two events indicate Tajikistan continues its
balancing act. For Avesta, with some ties to the government, to
give the Ambassador a platform to answer questions from not only
Tajikistan but also from the CIS, including Moscow, has to be
seen as a plus. Even more interesting is that the President's
think tank hosted a free-wheeling roundtable that included
prominently U.S. and other pro-democracy NGOs, as well as
opposition figures like Rajab Mirzo. The fist is clenched on
the one side, but it continues to stroke on the other. We
continue to believe this represents a lively debate within the
government between the old-guard neo-Soviets and the reformers
who have a much broader view of the modern world. It's easy to
focus on negative headlines, but we need to remain realistic
optimists. END COMMENT.
HOAGLAND