U.S. hopes suspension of BBC FM radio service in Tajikistan is temporary, says U.S. diplomat
12:00, january 25, 2006Author: Amrita Kirgizova
DUSHANBE
, January 25, Asia-Plus -- The British Broadcasting Corporation’s (BBC) FM radio service in
Dushanbe
,
Tajikistan
, was suspended January 11, and a
U.S.
diplomat says he hopes the interruption in programming is only temporary.
“The
United States
is aware that the head of the Tajik Committee for TV and Radio Broadcasting denied any political motivations behind the suspension,” said Kyle Scott, Charg? D’affaires for the U.S. Mission to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE).
“We hope that this is indeed the case, and that the suspension of BBC programming is only temporary and due merely to a bureaucratic oversight,” Scott said in a January 19 statement to the OSCE Permanent Council in
Vienna
,
Austria
.
A January 13 report by the
OSCE
Center
in
Dushanbe
found that the FM service was suspended because the British broadcasting service had not properly registered with
Tajikistan
’s Justice Ministry.
“Unfortunately, BBC was given very little notice about the need to re-register,” Scott said. He noted that
Tajikistan
, as a participating state, has accepted OSCE standards that state “… independent media are essential to a free and open society and accountable systems of government and are of particular importance in safeguarding human rights and fundamental freedoms.”
“The
United States
calls on
Tajikistan
to continue its efforts to take all necessary steps to ensure the basic conditions for free and independent media,” Scott said.
He added that “with a Tajik presidential election scheduled for the end of 2006, it is crucial that independent media be allowed to operate unhindered in Tajikistan well in advance of election day in order for the election to meet OSCE standards.”
President Rahmon holds talks with high-ranking Italian state officials to discuss cooperation
Quicklime production harms people and environment in Tajikistan
New Representative of Canada to the Ismaili Imamat presents credentials
Defense lawyer from Kafolat Bar Association faces charge of large scale fraud
Communications service agency urges mobile operators to stop attempts to raise their rates
Russian nationalists target Central Asians in Siberia following the deadly terrorist attack in Krasnogorsk
Commencement of official visit of Tajik president to the Italian Republic
Tajikistan striving to convince the world that it can contain terrorism
Protecting generations: 50 years of the Expanded Programme on Immunization
Emomali Rahmon pays an official visit to Italy and Vatican
All news
Авторизуйтесь, пожалуйста