Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08STATE65258
2008-06-17 21:30:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Secretary of State
Cable title:
OSCE PERMANENT COUNCIL: STATEMENT ON UZBEK
how-toVZCZCXRO1705 PP RUEHAST RUEHFL RUEHLA RUEHMRE RUEHPOD RUEHROV RUEHSR DE RUEHC #5258 1692131 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P R 172130Z JUN 08 FM SECSTATE WASHDC TO RUEHVEN/USMISSION USOSCE PRIORITY 1330 INFO ORG FOR SECURITY CO OP IN EUR COLLECTIVE
UNCLAS STATE 065258
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM OSCE UZ
SUBJECT: OSCE PERMANENT COUNCIL: STATEMENT ON UZBEK
BROADCAST CONCERNING RFE/RL
UNCLAS STATE 065258
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM OSCE UZ
SUBJECT: OSCE PERMANENT COUNCIL: STATEMENT ON UZBEK
BROADCAST CONCERNING RFE/RL
1. Post is authorized to make the following statement at the
June 19, 2008, meeting of the OSCE Permanent Council in
Vienna:
Begin Text:
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
The United States is deeply concerned about a television
broadcast aired on state-owned Ferghana Regional TV and
Namangan TV stations on June 9th and 10th concerning Radio
Free Europe/Radio Liberty,s Uzbek-language Service
"Ozodlik." The broadcast effectively placed journalists from
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) and their family
members at potential personal risk by portraying them as
subversives seeking to undermine the Government of Uzbekistan
and by publicizing personal information, including addresses,
passport information, places of work, and even the names and
locations of their children,s schools.
According to RFE/RL, this personal information concerning the
journalists was released to an estimated audience of 11
million, including viewers in areas of neighboring Tajikistan
and Kyrgyzstan. No legitimate journalistic purpose was served
by these revelations, which go far beyond the realm of open
dialogue and create an atmosphere conducive to threats or
actual violence.
No media outlet is immune to criticism of its news coverage.
Indeed, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty welcomes substantive
and factual critiques of its broadcasts. But that is not the
issue here. What the Uzbek broadcasters have done is neither
news reporting nor the airing of opinion. It is, quite
simply, intimidation. And it is certainly not in keeping
with the spirit of the principles of freedom of expression
for members of the press, which were highlighted during the
&International Media Freedom Conference8 that took place in
Tashkent last week.
We are likewise disturbed by the June 7 arrest for alleged
drug possession of independent journalist and former RFE/RL
correspondent Solidzhon Abdurahmonov.
Accordingly, the United States urges the government of
Uzbekistan to take effective measures to prevent intimidation
of or violence toward the RFE/RL journalists and their
families.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
RICE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM OSCE UZ
SUBJECT: OSCE PERMANENT COUNCIL: STATEMENT ON UZBEK
BROADCAST CONCERNING RFE/RL
1. Post is authorized to make the following statement at the
June 19, 2008, meeting of the OSCE Permanent Council in
Vienna:
Begin Text:
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
The United States is deeply concerned about a television
broadcast aired on state-owned Ferghana Regional TV and
Namangan TV stations on June 9th and 10th concerning Radio
Free Europe/Radio Liberty,s Uzbek-language Service
"Ozodlik." The broadcast effectively placed journalists from
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) and their family
members at potential personal risk by portraying them as
subversives seeking to undermine the Government of Uzbekistan
and by publicizing personal information, including addresses,
passport information, places of work, and even the names and
locations of their children,s schools.
According to RFE/RL, this personal information concerning the
journalists was released to an estimated audience of 11
million, including viewers in areas of neighboring Tajikistan
and Kyrgyzstan. No legitimate journalistic purpose was served
by these revelations, which go far beyond the realm of open
dialogue and create an atmosphere conducive to threats or
actual violence.
No media outlet is immune to criticism of its news coverage.
Indeed, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty welcomes substantive
and factual critiques of its broadcasts. But that is not the
issue here. What the Uzbek broadcasters have done is neither
news reporting nor the airing of opinion. It is, quite
simply, intimidation. And it is certainly not in keeping
with the spirit of the principles of freedom of expression
for members of the press, which were highlighted during the
&International Media Freedom Conference8 that took place in
Tashkent last week.
We are likewise disturbed by the June 7 arrest for alleged
drug possession of independent journalist and former RFE/RL
correspondent Solidzhon Abdurahmonov.
Accordingly, the United States urges the government of
Uzbekistan to take effective measures to prevent intimidation
of or violence toward the RFE/RL journalists and their
families.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
RICE