OSCE media freedom representative welcomes co-operation with Turkmenistan on her first visit

ASHGABAT, 20 September 2011 – The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Dunja Mijatović, today during her first visit to Turkmenistan offered the country’s authorities her assistance to liberalize media legislation and called for greater access to the Internet.

“I was honoured to accept Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Rashid Meredov’s invitation to visit Turkmenistan and receive information on the media-freedom situation in the country,” Mijatović said in the course of her three-day visit concluding tomorrow.

Talking about the liberalization of the Internet Mijatović said: “I believe that fast economic growth of today’s modern Turkmenistan will soon be mirrored in the expansion of communication technologies and the free flow of information offering new opportunities for the citizens of Turkmenistan”.

She also called on the authorities to foster media pluralism and to establish a legislative framework in line with international standards, to guarantee and safeguard media freedom.

“Variety in print and broadcast media is essential for Turkmenistan’s society,”  Mijatović said. “It is commendable that there is a non-government owned newspaper, but much more needs to be done to promote media pluralism and to ensure that the working environment for both national and foreign media corresponds to OSCE commitments.”

“During my meetings in Turkmenistan, I received assurances from all high officials that the government is ready to engage in constructive dialogue with my Office and bring our co-operation to a new level, including in the field of the liberalization of the media legal environment,” stressed Mijatovic. “I hope we will soon see tangible results, especially in the area of media legislation.”

Ambassador Sergei Belyaev, the Head of the OSCE Centre in Ashgabat who accompanied Mijatović said: “I hope that our joint work in Turkmenistan on media-development issues will continue and I especially look forward to our upcoming roundtable meeting on the media law to take place in November in Ashgabat“.

During her visit, the Representative met with Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Rashid Meredov, Deputy Prime Minister Maysa Yazmuhamedova; Culture, Television and Radio Broadcasting Minister Gulmyrat Myradov; Mejlis Speaker Akja Nurberdyyeva; as well as Vladimir Gubanov, Chair of the Parliamentary Committee of Science, Education and Culture.

Officials confirmed Turkmenistan’s participation in the upcoming 13th Central Asian Media Conference in Almaty.

She also met Yazdursun Gurbannazarova, Director of the Turkmen National Institute for Democracy and Human Rights and delivered a lecture at the Institute for International Relations on OSCE media-freedom commitments and the work of her Office.

On Wednesday, Mijatović will open a training seminar for government spokespersons.