Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09STATE73786
2009-07-15 21:55:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Secretary of State
Cable title:
OSCE PERMANENT COUNCIL: STATEMENT ON INTERNET LAW IN
how-toVZCZCXRO8398 PP RUEHAST RUEHDBU RUEHFL RUEHLA RUEHMRE RUEHPOD RUEHROV RUEHSK RUEHSL RUEHSR DE RUEHC #3786 1962210 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P R 152155Z JUL 09 FM SECSTATE WASHDC TO RUEHVEN/USMISSION USOSCE PRIORITY 2126 INFO ORG FOR SECURITY CO OP IN EUR COLLECTIVE
UNCLAS STATE 073786
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM OSCE KZ
SUBJECT: OSCE PERMANENT COUNCIL: STATEMENT ON INTERNET LAW IN
KAZAKHSTAN
Post is authorized to make the following statement at the
July 16, 2009, meeting of the OSCE Permanent Council in
Vienna:
Begin Text:
Madam Chairwoman,
The United States joins the EU in expressing our deep regret
that Kazakhstani President Nazarbayev signed into law on July
11th legislation on the Internet that we view as restrictive.
In our view, numerous provisions in the law are inconsistent
with Kazakhstan,s OSCE commitments on freedom of media and
speech. The new law would weaken freedom of expression on the
Internet by equating blogs and chats with traditional media
and reclassifying all Internet fora as &media outlets.8
The legislation marks a step backwards in the development of
Kazakhstan,s governance of the media. It would also
apparently significantly expand the legal grounds on which
the government could shutdown and block websites.
The United States has raised concerns about the Internet law
several times in this Permanent Council, as has the
Representative on Freedom of the Media. The legislation has
received this amount of attention because it is so critically
important for an incoming OSCE Chairmanship to respect and
endorse OSCE commitments, including on freedom of speech.
We ask that the Kazakhstani Mission will relay these concerns
to authorities in Astana. We appeal to the government to
implement this legislation in a manner consistent with
Kazakhstan,s OSCE commitments to freedom of speech and the
media.
Thank you, Madam Chairwoman.
End text
CLINTON
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM OSCE KZ
SUBJECT: OSCE PERMANENT COUNCIL: STATEMENT ON INTERNET LAW IN
KAZAKHSTAN
Post is authorized to make the following statement at the
July 16, 2009, meeting of the OSCE Permanent Council in
Vienna:
Begin Text:
Madam Chairwoman,
The United States joins the EU in expressing our deep regret
that Kazakhstani President Nazarbayev signed into law on July
11th legislation on the Internet that we view as restrictive.
In our view, numerous provisions in the law are inconsistent
with Kazakhstan,s OSCE commitments on freedom of media and
speech. The new law would weaken freedom of expression on the
Internet by equating blogs and chats with traditional media
and reclassifying all Internet fora as &media outlets.8
The legislation marks a step backwards in the development of
Kazakhstan,s governance of the media. It would also
apparently significantly expand the legal grounds on which
the government could shutdown and block websites.
The United States has raised concerns about the Internet law
several times in this Permanent Council, as has the
Representative on Freedom of the Media. The legislation has
received this amount of attention because it is so critically
important for an incoming OSCE Chairmanship to respect and
endorse OSCE commitments, including on freedom of speech.
We ask that the Kazakhstani Mission will relay these concerns
to authorities in Astana. We appeal to the government to
implement this legislation in a manner consistent with
Kazakhstan,s OSCE commitments to freedom of speech and the
media.
Thank you, Madam Chairwoman.
End text
CLINTON