DUSHANBE, October 6, 2009, Asia-Plus — A number of media organizations of Tajikistan – Tajik Journalists’ Union, National Association of Independent Media of Tajikistan (Nansmit), public organization Homa, Tajik Association of Independent Electronic Media (TajAESMI) – yesterday released an appeal to President Emomali Rahmon with solicitation to cancel licensing production of audiovisual products in the country.
The appeal, in particular, notes that few countries across the world have introduced licensing production of audiovisual and motion pictures. Only two countries within the CIS area, including Tajikistan, have introduced such licensing.
It also says that Tajikistan’s legislation guarantees creation and activity of TV and radio stations as well as film studios and no restrictions are determined., however, getting operating license from the Committee for TV and Radio-broadcasting has turned into impracticable task.
Besides, licensing the production of audiovisual products is in contrary to Article 40 of Tajikistan’s Constitution that guarantees freedom of creativeness
The appeal also stresses that information vacuum has occurred in Tajikistan and TV programs of other countries have been filling this vacuum, while 25 independent TV and radio stations and a large number of audio recording studios have not been able to get operating licenses for more than five years.
“Citizens of Tajikistan should have access to local alternative media. Along with covering moral principles and ideological foundations of society, independent electronic media may offer substantial programs and movies reflecting real values of the Tajik people and thereby expand production of audiovisual products and motion pictures.”
“We are sure that cancellation of licensing production of audiovisual products and motion pictures may promote solution of the following problems: providing national and information security; development of sound competition and improvement of quality of products in this sphere; development of entrepreneurship in the fields of media and cinema; creation of new jobs; Tajik products’ entering world market and propagation of the national culture,” the appeal said.
We will recall that a roundtable meeting formally titled “Developed Media – Guarantee of National Security of Tajikistan” was held in Dushanbe on September 25, this year. Organized by public association Homa in cooperation with Tajik Journalists’ Union with support from Internews Network, the meeting brought together representatives from President’s Executive Office, State Committee for investments and State-owned Property Management (GosKomInvest), State Committee for National Security (GKNB), licensing commissions, public associations and international organizations active in the country as well as lecturers from Dushanbe universities and journalists to consider the possibility of cancellation of licensing production of audiovisual products in the country.
The main objective of the event was in drawing once again the government’s attention to that problem. According to him, representatives of Tajik media community have conducted a series of regional and international roundtable meetings and conferences on this problem in recent years. The meeting participants noted that the cancellation of licensing production of audiovisual products was necessary, first of all, for ensuring security of national on-air broadcasting space and access of Tajik citizens to socially significant information.
Information on solution of licensing problem within the framework of the national program, Improvement of Entrepreneurial Environment – 200 Days of Reforms, was presented at the meeting and its participants discussed the possibility of cancellation of licensing the production of audiovisual products in Tajikistan.
