DUSHANBE, February 26, Asia-Plus - Professor Iborhim Usmonov told journalists in Dushanbe on February 25 that Tajik journalists have not yet had a certain system and “they do not share common elements, any common characteristics, common opinion.”  

On the problems of development of journalism, Usmonov underlined shortage of skilled journalists.  “Many journalists in Tajikistan continuing self-censoring their work,” Usmonov said, linking that to effects of the civil conflict of 1992-1997.  “Journalists are afraid of being accused of breaking the reestablished peace and national accord.”    

He also noted that some print media publish unchecked information.  “Thus, there is a newspaper in Tajikistan, which publishes apocryphal and unchecked information,” Usmonov said, refraining from naming that newspaper.

Asked about expediency of adoption of journalists ethics code in Tajikistan, Ibrohim Usmonov noted that Tajikistan needs such code.  “It should not be any government document,” said Usmonov, “The code should be adopted voluntarily.”