DUSHANBE, May 3, 2010, Asia-Plus – On the occasion of World Press Freedom Day, a roundtable entitled “Freedom of Speech and Problems facing Tajik Media” took place in Dushanbe on May 3.

The event was held under financial support of the Media Program of the Tajik Branch of Open Society Institute/Assistance Foundation (OSI/AF-Tajikistan) and with support from the OSCE Office in Tajikistan, the U.S. Embassy in Dushanbe, Internews and a number of other international organizations supporting media sector.

The meeting brought together representatives from a number of journalism and human rights organizations to outline the main spectrum of challenges and problems facing media in Tajikistan.  The main objective of the event was in discussing a number of topical issues related to freedom of expression and social responsibility of media.

The event participants included heads of central and regional media, representatives from media organizations, international organizations and diplomatic missions, totaling some 60 people. 

The ongoing financial crisis has deteriorated the situation of the media in Tajikistan.  In mid-2009 already, 40 local media editors and representatives of media organizations applied to the government, proposing a number of anti-crisis measures that could mitigate the crisis effects on media.  However, the government has not yet replied to that application.

According to unofficial information, more than 30 electronic media and production studios have failed to get broadcast and production licenses that impedes development of private independent television in the country.  Media community and internal organization have repeatedly raised this issue but the situation has not changed.

Problems facing regional media in the country were also among major topics of the meeting.  Surveys on the situation of the media in Gorno Badakhshan as well as Khatlon ad Sughd provinces were presented at the meeting.