OSCE PERMANENT COUNCIL: STATEMENT ON UZBEK

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