OSCE Centre helps Tajik newspaper begin publishing again after 15 years
(OSCE)After a 15-year break, the weekly Kulyabskaya Pravda appears again in Tajik and Russian languages, with support from the OSCE's Kulyab Field Office. (OSCE) Photo details
KULYAB, 2 September 2004 - A respected, traditional newspaper in southern Tajikistan was revived today after 15 years with assistance from the OSCE Centre in Dushanbe.
At an official ceremony, the weekly Kulyabskaya Pravda was presented by the OSCE Centre's Kulyab Field Office to readers, representatives of the government and non-governmental organizations as a unique information source in the south of Tajikistan.
With a print run of 2,500, the newspaper in Tajik and Russian languages will be made available to readers in all areas of the Khatlon region free-of-charge.
"Poor economic conditions, the absence of a local radio station and limited television broadcasting due to weak power supply were the motivating forces for the OSCE Kulyab Field Office to support the revival of Kulyabskaya Pravda," said Farhad Abdurakhmanov, Senior Field Assistant of the Office.
The newspaper was first issued in Kulyab in 1944 and gained significant popularity among the local population. The outbreak of the Tajikistan civil war in 1992, the exodus of a large proportion of the Russian-speaking population and out-of-date technology have combined to silence its journalists until today.
"The first phase of the project is aimed at creating operating conditions for journalists and for printing," Mr Abdurakhmanov added.
"The final goal is to see Kulyabskaya Pravda achieve a print run of 5,000."
At an official ceremony, the weekly Kulyabskaya Pravda was presented by the OSCE Centre's Kulyab Field Office to readers, representatives of the government and non-governmental organizations as a unique information source in the south of Tajikistan.
With a print run of 2,500, the newspaper in Tajik and Russian languages will be made available to readers in all areas of the Khatlon region free-of-charge.
"Poor economic conditions, the absence of a local radio station and limited television broadcasting due to weak power supply were the motivating forces for the OSCE Kulyab Field Office to support the revival of Kulyabskaya Pravda," said Farhad Abdurakhmanov, Senior Field Assistant of the Office.
The newspaper was first issued in Kulyab in 1944 and gained significant popularity among the local population. The outbreak of the Tajikistan civil war in 1992, the exodus of a large proportion of the Russian-speaking population and out-of-date technology have combined to silence its journalists until today.
"The first phase of the project is aimed at creating operating conditions for journalists and for printing," Mr Abdurakhmanov added.
"The final goal is to see Kulyabskaya Pravda achieve a print run of 5,000."