DUSHANBE, February 9, 2009, Asia-Plus  -- On Saturday February 7, President Emomali Rahmon singed a decree obligating state officials to take into account the media critical and analytical materials and properly and opportunely respond to them.

According to presidential press service, the decree is dedicated to strengthen the implementation practice and promote increase in role of media in political and socioeconomic life of society.

The president, in particular, decrees to support the media activity aimed at constructive and fruitful cooperation with ministries, organizations and local authorities in reflecting socioeconomic reforms in the country.

By president’s decree ministers, department heads and local officials are to take immediate and specific measures to respond to critical materials and proposals by media and inform president’s office and relevant media about “the results of consideration” within legally required time.  They should also use opportunities of television, radio, newspapers and magazines more fully in order to inform the population about the course of implementation of socially significant tasks.

By president’s decree the media heads are to consider providing objective facts and effective critical and analytical materials as well as opportunely informing about the results of response to critical and analytical materials as the main goals of their activities.

In comments on president’s decree, presidential press service noted that mass media were inseparable and one of important components of sovereign, democratic, rule-of-law, secular and unitary state of Tajikistan and played significant role in development of Tajik society and state.