Newsroom
OSCE Centre in Tashkent opens Internet Café for Journalists
TASHKENT 16 December 2003
TASHKENT, 16 December 2003 - An OSCE-sponsored Internet Café for Journalists has opened new possibilities for Uzbekistan's working media who need access to the up-to-date global information network.
After becoming independent 12 years ago, Uzbekistan said it would build a democratic state based on the rule of law. However, most mass media have since been subject to state interests and official censorship, abolished only in May 2002, did not allow independent media to develop.
The vast majority of Uzbek journalists are cut off from international information sources. This is due mainly to the limited financial resources of journalists as well as the reluctance of the authorities and some editors to provide journalists with access to the Internet.
At present, there are more than 400 000 Internet users in Uzbekistan, although very few of those logging on are journalists.
Located as it is in the central press building, the Internet Café for Journalists is easily accessible. Journalists themselves have welcomed the OSCE Centre's initiative, calling the opening both "timely and very important."
The project is one of a number of efforts the OSCE Centre in Tashkent is undertaking in order to promote media freedom in the country. This issue is becoming even more relevant in the light of the anticipated Parliamentary elections in Uzbekistan in December 2004.
After becoming independent 12 years ago, Uzbekistan said it would build a democratic state based on the rule of law. However, most mass media have since been subject to state interests and official censorship, abolished only in May 2002, did not allow independent media to develop.
The vast majority of Uzbek journalists are cut off from international information sources. This is due mainly to the limited financial resources of journalists as well as the reluctance of the authorities and some editors to provide journalists with access to the Internet.
At present, there are more than 400 000 Internet users in Uzbekistan, although very few of those logging on are journalists.
Located as it is in the central press building, the Internet Café for Journalists is easily accessible. Journalists themselves have welcomed the OSCE Centre's initiative, calling the opening both "timely and very important."
The project is one of a number of efforts the OSCE Centre in Tashkent is undertaking in order to promote media freedom in the country. This issue is becoming even more relevant in the light of the anticipated Parliamentary elections in Uzbekistan in December 2004.