DUSHANBE, December 29, 2008, Asia-Plus – A joint statement released by the Tajik Journalists’ Union (TJU) and the National Association of Independent Media of Tajikistan (Nansmit) on December 27 says, “TJU and Nansmit express concern about escalation of conflict between the Russian Embassy in Dushanbe and a number of Tajik newspapers and call on the sides to be tolerant to positions of opponents.”
On the note delivered by the Russian Embassy to the Tajik MFA on December 24 2008 over misrepresented information from the Dushanbe weeklies of
SSSR
,
Nigoh
,
Millat
,
Farazh
and incorrect lunges launched by them at the highest leadership of Russia and its policy, the statement said that tone and contents of the note demanding introduction of immediate measures to bar publications of such materials in Tajik media were inadmissible and in contrary to international standards of freedom of speech and media.
Tajikistan’s journalistic community highly appreciates the level of interstate relations between Tajikistan and the Russian Federation; however, it realizes that the subject of labor migration and protection of labor migrants’ rights is topical and socially significant. Therefore, Tajik media attach significance to coverage of this subject in order to promote adoption of efficient measures to ensure civilized solution of the labor migration problem by Russian and Tajik authorities, according to the statement.
“TJU and Nansmit call on employees of the Russian diplomatic mission to provide pragmatic approach to the problem and promote signing of the government-to-government agreement between the Russian Federation and Tajikistan on protection of rights of labor migrants. We are deeply convinced that labor migration is profitable for both countries. We assure heads of media that TJU and Nansmit will support all initiatives on discussion of political and socioeconomic issues in print and electronic media within the frame of law. At the same time, we call on colleagues to strictly keep balanced approach to the subject and observe ethical norms of journalistic profession while covering social issues, including labor migration.”
