DUSHANBE, July 17, 2008, Asia-Plus  --  Abdurahmon Abdumannonov, the first deputy head of the Committee for TV and Radio-broadcasting, told a press conference in Dushanbe on July 17 that a working group for elaboration of a charter of a joint Persian-language TV channel had been set up at a recent meeting of representatives of Tajikistan, Iran and Afghanistan in Dushanbe.

According to him, the sides are still considering issues related to laying legal foundation of the channel.   

“In the meantime, the issue of financing of the channel has not yet been solved,” Abdumannonov said, noting that the Afghan side suggested that the sides should have equal ownership interest in the company. 

He noted that subject area of the joint TV network has not yet been discussed as well.  “All three countries have their own TV broadcasting rules and these issues have not yet been discussed,” Abdumannonov said.  

We will recall that Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad proposed to launch the joint TV channel during his visit to Tajikistan in July 2006.  According to him, the joint TV channel could broadcast on the territories of Iran, Tajikistan and Afghanistan.  This joint television will be dedicated to facilitate dissemination of culture of the Persian-speaking countries, the Iranian president said. 

At the conclusion of a two-day summit in Dushanbe on March 24-25 this year, the foreign ministers of Tajikistan, Afghanistan, and Iran signed a joint 12-point communiqué pledging tripartite cooperation in the energy and transport sectors and vowing to expand economic cooperation.  The three added that they also agreed to establish a new Dushanbe-based Persian-language television channel to broadcast in each country.

The first working group session of representatives of Tajikistan, Iran and Afghanistan held in Dushanbe on July 6 resulted in signing of an agreement to establish a joint Persian-language TV network in the near future.  The agreement envisages taking some steps into consideration to launch the TV.  The Tajikistan capital, Dushanbe, was chosen as the network''s hub of activity and the legal address.  The second working group session will be held on August 7.