Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08STATE56975
2008-05-28 17:53:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Secretary of State
Cable title:
OSCE PERMANENT COUNCIL: STATEMENT ON ACCESS TO
how-toVZCZCXRO5254 PP RUEHAST RUEHBW RUEHFL RUEHLA RUEHMRE RUEHPOD RUEHROV RUEHSR DE RUEHC #6975 1491801 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P R 281753Z MAY 08 FM SECSTATE WASHDC TO RUEHVEN/USMISSION USOSCE PRIORITY 0851 INFO ORG FOR SECURITY CO OP IN EUR COLLECTIVE
UNCLAS STATE 056975
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM OSCE KZ
SUBJECT: OSCE PERMANENT COUNCIL: STATEMENT ON ACCESS TO
RFE/RL IN KAZAKHSTAN
UNCLAS STATE 056975
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM OSCE KZ
SUBJECT: OSCE PERMANENT COUNCIL: STATEMENT ON ACCESS TO
RFE/RL IN KAZAKHSTAN
1. (U) Post is authorized to present the following statement
at the May 29, 2008 Permanent Council meeting in Vienna.
Begin Text:
Mr. Chairman,
The United States shares the concerns expressed by our
Special Representative on Freedom of the Media that Internet
users in Kazakhstan and other Central Asian states have been
unable to access the English and local language websites of
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. Since April 11, these
websites have been inaccessible to Kazakhstani customers of
state-owned Kazakhtelecom. As Kazakhtelecom is the major
internet provider throughout the region, many internet users
in Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan have also been
prevented from accessing these websites.
Despite repeated inquiries from Radio Free Europe and the
U.S. Government, the access problem has not yet been resolved
by the Kazakhstani government. Interrupted Internet access
as a result of a technical glitch by an Internet server might
be a plausible explanation, but limited access that appears
targeted against a specific site, especially a site which
carries international and national news and information, may
appropriately lead to the conclusion that this is more than a
technical matter.
Kazakhstan has freely undertaken commitments to respect
freedom of expression for members of the press, including
OSCE Permanent Council Decision No. 633 on Promoting
Tolerance and Media Freedom on the Internet, in which
participating states committed to "take action to ensure that
the Internet remains an open and public forum for freedom of
opinion and expression." Denying Internet users access to
the entire RFE website for several weeks would be clearly
inconsistent with that commitment. Limiting Internet access
would also be inconsistent with commitments the Government of
Kazakhstan made at the Madrid Ministerial, which included
reform of the media law in consultation with the Freedom of
Media Representative.
We strongly urge the Government of Kazakhstan, working
together with its Internet service providers, to resolve this
issue without further delay.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
RICE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM OSCE KZ
SUBJECT: OSCE PERMANENT COUNCIL: STATEMENT ON ACCESS TO
RFE/RL IN KAZAKHSTAN
1. (U) Post is authorized to present the following statement
at the May 29, 2008 Permanent Council meeting in Vienna.
Begin Text:
Mr. Chairman,
The United States shares the concerns expressed by our
Special Representative on Freedom of the Media that Internet
users in Kazakhstan and other Central Asian states have been
unable to access the English and local language websites of
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. Since April 11, these
websites have been inaccessible to Kazakhstani customers of
state-owned Kazakhtelecom. As Kazakhtelecom is the major
internet provider throughout the region, many internet users
in Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan have also been
prevented from accessing these websites.
Despite repeated inquiries from Radio Free Europe and the
U.S. Government, the access problem has not yet been resolved
by the Kazakhstani government. Interrupted Internet access
as a result of a technical glitch by an Internet server might
be a plausible explanation, but limited access that appears
targeted against a specific site, especially a site which
carries international and national news and information, may
appropriately lead to the conclusion that this is more than a
technical matter.
Kazakhstan has freely undertaken commitments to respect
freedom of expression for members of the press, including
OSCE Permanent Council Decision No. 633 on Promoting
Tolerance and Media Freedom on the Internet, in which
participating states committed to "take action to ensure that
the Internet remains an open and public forum for freedom of
opinion and expression." Denying Internet users access to
the entire RFE website for several weeks would be clearly
inconsistent with that commitment. Limiting Internet access
would also be inconsistent with commitments the Government of
Kazakhstan made at the Madrid Ministerial, which included
reform of the media law in consultation with the Freedom of
Media Representative.
We strongly urge the Government of Kazakhstan, working
together with its Internet service providers, to resolve this
issue without further delay.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
RICE