DUSHANBE, August 10, 2010, Asia-Plus  -- The National Association of Independent Media of Tajikistan (Nansmit) has supported a draft law “On the Press and Other Mass Media.”

The Nansmit head Nouriddin Qarshiboyev told Asia-Plus Monday afternoon that parliamentarians have taken into account almost 90 percent of proposals made by local media organizations while developing the media bill.  “There are some remarks; we will discuss these remarks with journalists and then will send them to the bill authors,” Qarshiboyev said.

According to the Tajik media watchdog head, the main difference of the media bill from the current media law is the existence of notional apparatus.  “Besides, the bill describes in detail the mechanism of access to information,” he added.

We will recall that the Majlisi Namoyandagon (Tajikistan’s lower chamber of parliament) plans to adopt the new edition of the law “On the Press and Other Mass Media,” authored by MPs Olim Salimzoda and Akramsho Fellaliyev.  The media law is currently under consideration in the provinces.

Tajik Journalists’ Union and Nansmit are hosting a meeting today to discuss the draft media.  Media and human rights organizations as well as media and journalists have bee invited to take an active part in the discussion of the law and development of legal foundation of the media activities in the country.