DUSHANBE, December 12, Asia-Plus  -- Print media as well as publishing houses and printeries that will fail to pass re-registration with the Ministry of Culture (MoC), which ends on December 31, will be suspended, Asia-Plus has learned from Gulmahamd Davlatov, a spokesman for the ministry.   

According to him, 81 newspapers, 22 magazines, two news agencies, 15 publishing houses and 60 enterprises dealing with printing trade have been re-registered with ministry so far, while as of January 1 2007, 272 newspapers, 72 magazines and seven news agencies have been reported in the country.   

“To date, only two press holdings – Charkhi Gardoun and Oila – have completely passed all re-registration procedures, having registered all their publications at the ministry,” the spokesman said.  

 He added that strict measures would be introduced against print media and publishing houses that would fail to be re-registered with the ministry by the date fixed.  “On completion of the re-registration we intend to apply to the Ministry of Justice asking for introducing appropriate measures against violators of government’s resolution establishing procedures of registration of publishing organizations, right up to closure,” Davlatov said.