OSCE, Ashgabad, 05 Sep 2008 – The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Miklos Haraszti, visited Ashgabad from 2 to 4 September to meet the stakeholders in Turkmenistan’s media governance and explore the potential for reform toward compliance with OSCE commitments in the media field.
“I was glad to accept the invitation by the government and visit the country at a time of reforms intended to open up Turkmenistan to the challenges of the modern world. My interlocutors showed interest in bringing Turkmenistan’s presently state-owned media closer to international standards,” Haraszti said.
During the visit, the OSCE Representative met Rashid Meredov, Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers and Foreign Minister; Maysa Yazmuhammedova, Deputy Chairperson of the Cabinet of Ministers; Akdja Nurberdiyeva, the Chairperson of the Mejlis (parliament); Gulmyrat Myradov, Minister of Culture, TV, and Radiobroadcasting; and Djeren Taimova, the Chairperson of the State News Agency.
Haraszti also met accredited and non-accredited journalists contributing to international media, as well as media NGOs.
During his meetings with the officials involved in administration of the media, Haraszti offered the assistance of his office in legal reviews and training projects and discussed other ways they could co-operate.
“I hope that as a result of my meetings in Ashgabad, journalists from Turkmenistan will join us this year for our annual Central Asian Media Conference that will take place on 16 and 17 October in Almaty, Kazakhstan,” said Haraszti.
“During the talks, the need for a transparent and uncomplicated system of accreditation was also discussed so that journalists could safely provide reliable information on the country for foreign media.”
The visit of the OSCE Representative was prepared jointly by the Turkmenistan Foreign Ministry and the OSCE Centre in Ashgabat, headed by Ambassador Ibrahim Djikic, who participated in the official meetings.
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