OSCE Chairman discusses elections, media freedom, good governance with Tajikistan's leaders

DUSHANBE, 19 April 2005 - Good governance, democratic elections and media freedom are crucial for stabilizing the emerging civil society in Tajikistan and attracting international assistance and investments, OSCE Chairman-in-Office Dimitrij Rupel said today in Dushanbe.

The Slovenian Foreign Minister said a healthy democratic process in Tajikistan would require continued reform of election legislation, reform and training of those responsible for election administration, as well as increasing the scope for independent media and political party development.

"To help address the shortcomings it noted during the February 27 parliamentary elections, the OSCE's Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) is ready to engage in a dialogue with Tajik authorities to identify areas in which technical assistance projects could be developed to promote democratic elections," Minister Rupel said.

He met President Emomali Rakhmonov, First Deputy Foreign Minister Sirojiddin Aslov, and the Chairman of the Lower House of Parliament, Saidullo Hairuloev.

Minister Rupel and President Rakhmonov discussed problems associated with organized crime and human and drug trafficking. The Chairman-in-Office stressed his concern over the absence of efficient border controls along the Tajik-Afghan border.

At a separate meeting, leaders of political parties urged Minister Rupel to pay close attention to issues related to elections, the independence of the judiciary and the media.

The OSCE Chairman urged the Tajik Government to submit to the new Parliament a draft media law prepared by a joint working group that included representatives of the OSCE Centre in Dushanbe, Internews and other state and non-state media experts.

"Decriminalizing libel and defamation is important," he said. He also asked the Tajik authorities to ease the licensing processes for electronic media following the suspension of the relevant procedures in February 2004.

"Media administrative violations, such as tax evasion or irregularities in the registration or everyday work of the media, must not be solved through criminal penalties but through administrative means. Suspending or sealing printing houses, or seizing the entire circulation of newspapers, should not be allowed."

Minister Rupel also encouraged the authorities to take effective and well-publicized steps to curb corruption, which he saw as a real threat to the further political and economic development of Tajikistan.

"This issue is linked to the need to encourage independent investigative journalism," he said. The OSCE believed that independent monitoring of and reporting on detention facilities could be a highly effective measure to improve conditions for detainees and prevent degrading practices from taking place.

In meetings with NGO representatives and with the deputy foreign minister, Minister Rupel said legislative changes were urgently needed to reduce obstacles to the registration of NGOs, as well as to abolish the criminal and administrative liability of individuals participating in activities of unregistered public associations.

During his talks, the OSCE Chairman-in-Office praised Tajikistan for becoming a party to all 12 universal anti-terrorism instruments with its ratification of three resolutions last October, noting that the Organization regarded the fight against terrorism as one of its most important priorities.

The OSCE was ready to continue its assistance in the areas of small arms and light weapons and conventional ammunition programmes for Tajikistan.

Minister Rupel also said the OSCE looked forward to implementing Phase III of the Mine Action Programme for Tajikistan in partnership with the Tajik Mine Action Centre and the Swiss Foundation for Mine Action (FSD). With support from the EU, the OSCE has contributed 560,000 euros since 2002 to mine action implementation and continues to mobilize donors for funding.

The OSCE Chairman-in-Office, accompanied by his Personal Representative on Central Asia, Alojz Peterle, today travels to Turkmenistan for the last leg of a trip which began in Kyrgyzstan on Monday.