Was the conference really international?
International conference titled «Freedom of the media in a modern democracy» was held in Tashkent on June 9-10. Among organizers there were progovernmental Institute for Civil Society Studies, Regional Politics Foundation, and the Uzbek National Center for Human Rights.
According to President’s press-service, the conference attracted journalists and experts from Great Britain, Germany, Egypt, Israel, Indonesia, the People’s Republic of China, Kuwait, Malaysia, Poland, South Korea, Russia, United States, Turkey, Ukraine, France, and Japan. Representatives of the diplomatic community and international organizations accredited in Uzbekistan were also present.
Fergana.ru informs that some international human rights organizations, meanwhile, questioned the validity and pressing nature of the scheduled issues to be discussed at the Tashkent forum. Human Rights Watch, International Crisis Group, Open Society Institute, and Reporters Without Frontiers released a joint statement branding the forum in the capital of Uzbekistan as a sham and a «gaunt specter» of what the European Union had actually planned.
If there is no representatives of world-known information agencies (for instance, BBC and DW) how could the organizers name it INTERNATIONAL?
The fact that OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Miklos Haraszti, called the conference «an indication that Uzbekistan is embarked on the way to democratization and liberalization, that its government is doing all it can to remove the obstacles interfering with free development of the media. It’s quite a timely undertaking for all of the region» makes me to make a conclusion that OSCE and European states’ policy towards Uzbekistan after no-effect EU sanctions realized that there is a need to another approah to Islam Karimov.
According to Uznews.net, the seminar was taking place behind a veil of secrecy. Its existence only known to the few journalists representing UzA, National TV and Radio Broadcasting Company, and Uzbekistan Today (Russian-English weekly which is known as Uzbekistan’s showcase).
Was it another public show by Karimov&Co or OSCE’s (on the behalf of the whole Europe, including EU) attempt to normalize relations with Uzbekistan by helding “childish” conferences which looks like throwing dust in eyes of international community? Cant’ still get it…
P.S. Haraszti revealed the OSCE plans to arrange a series of major events and forum on freedom of the media and expression later this year. «I think this seminar will provide a proper beginning for all other forums where problems with regard to freedom of the media will be discussed», the OSCE official said.
on June 13th, 2008 at 3:22 pm
the main point Karimov is aiming or aimed by that conference was “the priority of first-handled information”, like,
“the conference attracted journalists and experts from Great Britain, Germany, Egypt, Israel, Indonesia, the People’s Republic of China, Kuwait, Malaysia, Poland, South Korea, Russia, United States, Turkey, Ukraine, France, and Japan. Representatives of the diplomatic community and international organizations accredited in Uzbekistan were also present.”
Karimov may say (and probably is saying) that the presence of international journalists is an index of high level of the conference. and he’s right. i think the more really international organizations expressed disagree and concerns regarding “internationally recognized status of the conference” the less Karimov & co would have chances to boast of that merit of holding the greatest and the most influencial on mass-media processes event ever
on June 15th, 2008 at 11:04 am
I am afraid that Western, especially European countries are hypocritical about Karimov’s regime. They are supporting this regime because they see it as an opponent to Islamist movement in the region. Karimov knows this very well and effectively use this in his policy maneuvering.
Unfortunately Western countries proved that they only care about their own interests and use ” democracy’ demagogue only to punish the country that are not serving their interests