DUSHANBE, December 12, 2012, Asia-Plus  -- Deputies of the Majlisi Namoyandagon (Tajikistan’s lower chamber of parliament) have endorsed a new bill on the periodical press and other mass media.

A regular sitting of the fourth session of the Majlisi Namoyandagon of the fourth convocation, resided over by its head, Shukurjon Zuhurov, took place in Dushanbe on December 12.       

MP Olim Salimzoda, who is one of authors of a new media law, said that a special working group comprising representatives of the parliament, the government, political parties and journalism community to work further on the country’s media law.  During more than two years, the working group held 18 meetings and the draft law was submitted for consideration to the Majlisi Namoyandagon in March 2010.

“Under the new law, all media outlets in Tajikistan will be registered as legal entities and public agencies will have to answer journalist inquiries within three days,” the parliamentarian noted.

MP Suhrob Sharipov noted that the new media law met requirements of “international norms and standards of freedom of speech.”

MP Shodi Shabdolov, who was a member of the working group for drafting the new media law, noted that they had taken into consideration many remarks of journalists while working out the draft law.