Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08STATE51285
2008-05-14 16:58:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Secretary of State
Cable title:
OSCE PERMANENT COUNCIL: STATEMENT ON DRAFT
how-toVZCZCXRO4432 PP RUEHAST RUEHBW RUEHFL RUEHLA RUEHMRE RUEHPOD RUEHROV RUEHSR DE RUEHC #1285 1351705 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P R 141658Z MAY 08 FM SECSTATE WASHDC TO RUEHVEN/USMISSION USOSCE PRIORITY 0602 INFO ORG FOR SECURITY CO OP IN EUR COLLECTIVE
UNCLAS STATE 051285
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KG OSCE PGOV PHUM PREL
SUBJECT: OSCE PERMANENT COUNCIL: STATEMENT ON DRAFT
AMENDMENTS TO KYRGYZSTAN,S BROADCASTING LAW
UNCLAS STATE 051285
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KG OSCE PGOV PHUM PREL
SUBJECT: OSCE PERMANENT COUNCIL: STATEMENT ON DRAFT
AMENDMENTS TO KYRGYZSTAN,S BROADCASTING LAW
1. Post is authorized to make the following statement at the
May 15, 2008, meeting of the OSCE Permanent Council in Vienna:
Begin Text:
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
The United States shares the concern of the Representative of
Freedom Miklos Haraszti as he expressed in a May 13th press
release on recent draft amendments to Kyrgyzstan,s
broadcasting law.
The amendments appear to undermine Kyrgyzstan,s stated goal
of developing an independent public service broadcaster by
giving the President control over appointing the leadership
and nominating the board of the National Television and Radio
Company of Kyrgyzstan. We find it particularly disappointing
that these amendments were adopted by Parliament without
consultations with media experts and without widespread
public comment and debate.
This recent development is especially regrettable in light of
the creation in Kyrgyzstan of the first independent media
self-regulatory body in Central Asia, which we praised in our
response to Ambassador Haraszti,s report to the Permanent
Council in March.
The United States encourages the Government to take advantage
of the resources and experience of the Representative on
Freedom of the Media to conduct an expert assessment of the
proposed broadcasting law and to assist in a revision of the
amendments.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
RICE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KG OSCE PGOV PHUM PREL
SUBJECT: OSCE PERMANENT COUNCIL: STATEMENT ON DRAFT
AMENDMENTS TO KYRGYZSTAN,S BROADCASTING LAW
1. Post is authorized to make the following statement at the
May 15, 2008, meeting of the OSCE Permanent Council in Vienna:
Begin Text:
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
The United States shares the concern of the Representative of
Freedom Miklos Haraszti as he expressed in a May 13th press
release on recent draft amendments to Kyrgyzstan,s
broadcasting law.
The amendments appear to undermine Kyrgyzstan,s stated goal
of developing an independent public service broadcaster by
giving the President control over appointing the leadership
and nominating the board of the National Television and Radio
Company of Kyrgyzstan. We find it particularly disappointing
that these amendments were adopted by Parliament without
consultations with media experts and without widespread
public comment and debate.
This recent development is especially regrettable in light of
the creation in Kyrgyzstan of the first independent media
self-regulatory body in Central Asia, which we praised in our
response to Ambassador Haraszti,s report to the Permanent
Council in March.
The United States encourages the Government to take advantage
of the resources and experience of the Representative on
Freedom of the Media to conduct an expert assessment of the
proposed broadcasting law and to assist in a revision of the
amendments.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
RICE