DUSHANBE, April 3, 2009, Asia-Plus — Termination of RTR-Planeta’s rebroadcast in Tajikistan should not affect Tajik-Russian relations, Sayfullo Safarov, a senior expert from Tajik think tank, told Asia-Plus today, commenting on a decision by the Committee for TV and Radio-broadcasting to stop rebroadcasting of RTR-Planeta in the country.
“There ought not to seek any political aspect in this decision. Our relations have strategic character and do not depend on activities of separate companies or institutions,” said Safarov, who is deputy director of the Center for Strategic Studies under the Tajik President.
According to him, major part of the country’s population will suffer form lack of RTR-Planeta that was the only Russian TV channel broadcasted in Tajikistan. “Not all people can pick up ORT that is rebroadcasted by TV-201 or can afford to purchase satellite dishes,” Safarov said.
He added that resumption of rebroadcasting of RTR-Planeta depended on the Tajik public itself. “If there is need in this TV channel in the country, the issue will be solved in the near future,” said the expert, “To solve the issue, Tajik and Russian specialists just have to come to negotiating table and make mutual concessions.”
We will recall that Tajik authorities yesterday decided to terminate the rebroadcasting of RTR-Planeta in the country completely.
