KYRGYZ PM PARTICIPATES IN US EMBASSY WORLD PRESS FREEDOM

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BISHKEK 000520 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPT FOR SCA/CEN, SCA/PPD E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PREL KPAO KG SUBJECT: KYRGYZ PM PARTICIPATES IN US EMBASSY WORLD PRESS FREEDOM DAY EVENT REF: BISHKEK 00454 BISHKEK 00000520 001.2 OF 002 SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED. NOT FOR INTERNET DISTRIBUTION ¶1. (SBU) Summary: In honor of World Press Freedom Day, Post hosted an event at the recently raided Freedom House Printing Press. The Ambassador, Kyrgyz Prime Minister Alamaz Atambayev, and Kyrgyz Media Representative Shamaral Maychiev gave short remarks regarding the importance of a free press in a democracy. Alluding to the April 20 raid on the Freedom House press, the PM admitted that the Kyrgyz Government had made recent mistakes and that the role of government is to provide safety to the press. Several members of the Kyrgyz press corps, including recent victims of physical attacks, members of the Diplomatic and NGO community, were then given a tour of the facilities. End Summary. ¶2. (SBU) April was a difficult month for press freedom in Kyrgyzstan. In addition to four journalists beaten or robbed while reporting, several reporters were injured or threatened while reporting on opposition demonstrations in April. The most visible event was an early morning raid April 20 on the Freedom House Printing Press where copies of opposition newspapers were seized by government officials (see REFTEL). In what was clearly a heartfelt speech at the Freedom House event, Prime Minister Atambayev hit the right notes on the importance of a free press, and the responsibility reporters have to be accurate in their reporting. He opened by quoting Thomas Jefferson, saying if he had to choose between a government without newspapers or newspapers without governments, he would choose the newspapers. ¶3. (SBU) In a significant reference to the April 20 raid, the PM admitted that the Kyrgyz Government had made recent mistakes and that the role of government is to provide safety to the press. He claimed to now be personally investigating recent events involving journalists, and he said that violence should not be used against journalists. Atambayev went on to say that there is responsibility on the part of journalists to be accurate and restrained in their reporting. Describing a personal tragedy, he explained that his own mother died of a heart attack after hearing that his opposition leader father had been described by a journalist as "an enemy of the state." He closed by asking journalists to be patient, in spite of their low salaries and the danger in their work, reminding those assembled of the improvements in press freedom since the Akayev era. ¶4. (SBU) Media Representative Shamaral Maychiev, a private lawyer who advocates on behalf of journalists and media freedom, stated that journalism is the most important profession in the world, bringing information to each and every household in Kyrgyzstan. Asking the rhetorical question of whether Kyrgyzstan has press freedom, he cited two new laws. The recent freedom of information law and the newly enacted law converting the state Kyrgyz Television and Radio station (KTR) into a public television station, which he said would provide an objective view on news. He stressed that the confiscation of newspapers and physical attacks against journalists was unacceptable. ¶5. (SBU) Comment: Following so shortly on the April 20 raid, this year's World Press Freedom Day event was an extremely positive event, given the PM's participation and clear signal that his government will support and defend media independence. His strong remarks in support of media were well-covered by government and private media. Atambayev, who in his youth had set type manually to earn extra money, was visibly impressed by the tour of the printing house facility which demonstrated its printing operation efficiency by instantly producing an issue of a local newspaper with his photo and excerpts from his speech given just minutes before on the front page. Furthermore, one local member of the NGO community commented that, in this time of ongoing pressure on journalists and independent media, the event was a great way of attracting government attention to the challenges which lie ahead in building a truly free and independent media in Kyrgyzstan. BISHKEK 00000520 002.2 OF 002 YOVANOVITCH