On 15 November 2007, the Tajik capital hosted a three-day workshop for young journalists working in the sphere of ecology in Central Asia.

The conference was organized by “Nature Protection Brigade”, an ecological NGO based in Dushanbe, the UN Ecological Program (UNEP), the Tajik-Russian Slavic University, the US Embassy Democracy Commission, and the German Fredric Ebert Fund.

Jamshed Mamadjanov, representative of the OSCE Media Center in Dushanbe told fergana.ru that participants of the Conference discussed the perspectives of ecological journalism referring to Tajikistan’s showcase. During three days, the participants will discuss the role of young professionals in the information space, the perspectives of ecological topics in the mass media, and the contemporary ecological terminology.

Firuza Abdurahimova, leader of “Nature Protection Brigade” says that open dialogues will help the participants to define practical functions of ecological journalism and establish a stable platform for partnership among journalists, university professors, governmental and international organizations. Experienced trainers will provide the young journalists with valuable information and advice.

http://www.ferghana.ru/

On 13 November, Tolib Kholov, official from the State TV and Radio Committee informed that the activities of cable TV companies in Dushanbe are terminated because of the absence of licenses.

Kholov said that the idea belongs to the Committee on National Security. The Committee refers to the fact that these companies do not have broadcasting licenses. Answering the question “why these companies could not obtain the license?”, Kholov said that they failed to collect necessary documents. He added that in some of the documents the companies should indicate sources of funding and agreements with broadcasting companies whose programs they rebroadcast.

Manager of TV Ison Askar Niyazov who has been providing cable TV services since 2005, said that his company has been waiting for response from the licensing committee for two years. He also stressed that the authorities provided them with no official letter explaining why they cannot receive a blank licensing form. Niyazov says that the cable TV services are in demand, especially among lower income citizens who cannot afford paying $200 for a satellite dish. Cable TV services provide more than 55 TV channels, for which subscribers pay monthly $2,30.

Tolib Kholov said that in the nearest future activities of similar companies will be terminated in other regions of Tajikistan. There are nine companies providing cable TV services.

http://www.regnum.ru/

On 14 November, early in the morning citizens of the Tajik capital were shocked by a bang of a violent explosion. News agencies immediately reported that one person was killed – a local guard who came across a plastic bag near Kohi Vahdat, a concert-conference complex in downtown area. The bag contained an explosive device.

The conference complex is situated in vicinity to the President’s Palace, the Uzbek Embassy, the Tajik National Bank and a big hotel. The main premises of the ruling National Democratic Party is also located in Kohi Vahdat, which up to 1997 belonged to the Union of Tajik Theaters.

The bomb exploded half an hour before the beginning of the First Consultative Meeting for Disaster Risk Reduction in Central Asia – the event organized by the European Commission Humanitarian Office (ECHO). It was expected that Deputy Prime Minister Aqil Aqilov would attend the Conference.
Prosecutor of Dushanbe Kurbonali Muhabbatov said that the law enforcement agencies have launched an investigation. The main allegation forwarded so far by the National Security Committee is a terrorist attack.
That very morning, President of Tajikistan Emomali Rakhmon accompanied by a number of government officials left for the northern city of Khujand to celebrate the 15-th anniversary of the 16-th session of the Tajik Supreme Council – the historical event that had led the incumbent President to power.
Earlier this year, on 16 June a similar incident took place on the territory of the Tajik Supreme Court. No casualties were reported, but the premises were severely damaged. The authorities then made a similar statement saying that “certain terrorist forces stand behind the explosion”.
In 2005 unidentified criminals let off a bomb within a vehicle parked near the Ministry of Emergencies. Several civilians died in the explosion, and a few Ministry officers were injured. The law enforcement agencies also said that “the explosion is the doing of Islamic terrorists”.
As for the latest explosion (on 14 November 2007), there have not been any suppositions that the EU was the target of attackers. However, in July 2000, a Toyota Land Cruiser belonging to the ECHO office in Dushanbe exploded in downtown area, not far from the mayor’s office. One person died in that incident; four residents – among whom three were children – were injured.
Another similar case – three consecutive explosions in Dushanbe on 15 and 16 June 2006, near the Iranian embassy (one hundred meters from the Parliament), near the building of the Islamic Renaissance Party, and near the Tajik Constitutional Court. That was the only case where the criminals “were found”. According to investigators, those were several young hooligans; but the public at large did not buy the story. Experts commented that the explosions (though without casualties) were arranged in order to destabilize the situation on the eve of the presidential election in November 2006.
Officially, the civil conflict ended in Tajikistan in 1997, when the secular government and the so-called United Tajik Opposition (UTO) signed the Peace Agreement in Moscow (Tajikistan has recently celebrated the 10-th anniversary of this event). The last UTO gangs, however, were annihilated only in 2001. Since then, there have not been any militant clashes in the country; but explosions in Dushanbe occur quite frequently. What is peculiar about the explosions is that nobody claims responsibility, nobody puts forward any demands.
The Disaster Risk Reduction Conference organized by ECHO resumed its work on the same day and at the same venue (at 3 p.m. local time). However, the blast has raised a serious concern among the international organizations accredited in Tajikistan.
One of the foreign agencies has issued an International SOS Comment, saying that “allegedly, members of the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU) might be involved in the attack”. The agency also has an allegation that “the latest attack may also be motivated by domestic political issues”, referring to “Emomali Rakhmon’s recent crackdown on political dissidents and Islamic opposition parties, which has evoked anger amongst various opposition and religious groups”.

The International SOS Comment says that “further attacks on government targets in Dushanbe and other regions of the country are likely”, and “a heightened state of alert and increased security measures in Dushanbe are anticipated”, thus advising expatriates to limit their travel to Tajikistan.

Tajikistan has made a number of commitments to the global community. The authorities are trying to attract investments so badly needed for industry and infrastructure. However, the Tajik leadership is being criticized by human rights watchdogs and the monetary institutions for non-fulfillment of its obligations, slow progress in improvement of the national legislation, unfavorable entrepreneurial environment in the country, and the reluctance to change the situation. Tajikistan’s economy largely depends on remittances from labor migrants, whereas the industry and agriculture remain in deep stagnation.

The Tajik leader Emomali Rakhmon tries to attract attention of the donor community and the closest neighbors calling them to jointly resolve economic and social problems, inevitably leading to local and regional conflicts, but most of his appeals remain unheard.

Konstantin Parshin

Источник: NANSMIT

Press Now Netherlands created an offshore radio station for Uzbekistan. This radio station will broadcast one hour a day, once a week, with a block of news, reports and entertaining shows oriented to Uzbekistan. Broadcasting will be performed in Uzbek language.
Currently, Press Now is looking for a candidate for the position of Project Coordinator / Editor / Director. Interested individuals can receive detailed information on the web page: http://www.pressnow.nl/asp/vacancies.asp

Source: NANSMIT Monitoring Service

Journalists from Central Asia came to Brussels to learn about activities and programs of NATO.

One of the segments of the NATO program “Partnership for Peace” is outreach activities among the media. “Partnership for Peace” has been under implementation since 2002. The goal of this program is to provide media professionals with reliable information about NATO as a political and military organization, and to deflate the cold war stereotypes.

Media professionals have also learned about the North Atlantic Block’s activities in Afghanistan. The ongoing program in this country is the first operation conducted by NATO away from Europe. About 40 thousand servicemen from 26 member countries are taking part on the program.

NATO is planning specific programs on disaster preparedness and response, projects on energy and cyber security, which will be discussed next year in Bucharest, Romania.

Journalists were also told about the partnerships “Russia-NATO” and “The Ukrarine-NATO”.

During the study tour, journalists visited the headquarters and the military command premises of NATO.

Tajikistan was represented by TV Safina and Asia Plus news agency.

http://www.asiaplus.tj/

The Sixths Ministerial Conference «Environment for Europe» held in the Serbian capital of Belgrade on 10-12 October, gathered delegations from 56 countries and representatives of the European Commission.

Environment for Europe (EfE) is a forum for tackling environmental challenges and promoting broad cooperation for sustainable development contributing to poverty eradication, improving quality of life and creating a safer world by means of clear-cut policies. The EfE initiative is based on environmental cooperation among countries in Europe, North America, Caucasus and Central Asia in conditions of the changing political and socio-economic landscape. EfE involves governments, civil society and private sector in achieving the UN Millennium Development Goals (MDG).

The First EfE Conference was held in 1991 in Czechoslovakia to define basic guidelines for ecological and health-related strategies in Central and Eastern Europe. The Second, Third and Fourth Conferences were held in Switzerland, Bulgaria and Denmark respectively. The Fifth Conference held in 2003 in Kiev, Ukraine adopted the Environment Strategy for Countries of Eastern Europe, Caucasus and Central Asia.

«Tajikistan suffers from the lack of coherence in regional environmental policies and coordination among the governments within Central Asia, — says Mouazamma Burkhanova, leader of a Tajik NGO «Support to Civil Initiatives». — In Tajikistan, the government pays more attention to cotton – traditional strategic raw material – frequently forgetting about the growing environmental challenges».

Burkhanova considers that the Tajik delegation can benefit from the educational segment of the Sixth Conference. Tajikistan participates in the UN Decade of Education for Sustainable Development. Since 2003, the country also has been implementing a specific educational program for local communities supported by several international donor agencies. So far, the program has been relatively successful. However, experts say that the lack of local decision-making and insufficient decentralization of power in provinces and districts are thwarting the program. According to the Tajik Constitution, the President personally appoints leaders on all levels (even heads of district administrations).

European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has recently allocated funds for a municipal waste management program in Dushanbe, which is expected to be replicated in other cities of Tajikistan. «In order to create incentives for proper waste management, our NGO together with the municipal authorities in the capital try to attract entrepreneurs, — says Burkhanova. — Commercial waste management and secondary production are fast-growing and very perspective businesses in developed countries. We try to apply this experience in our conditions».

«Very often, funds allocated by numerous donor agencies and international monetary institutions in Tajikistan’s infrastructure and communal facilities are misspent, — says another member of the Tajik delegation who wished to remain anonymous. — Public at large hardly knows about the volumes of foreign allocations and facts of embezzlement, whereas the mayor’s office and the central government are reluctant to share this information with public organizations and the media». A special agency in charge of statistics on external aid (Aid Coordination Unit under the President) was dissolved at the end of 2006, and now, it is difficult to find reliable data on the foreign assistance and programs under implementation.

Another source told the EurasiaNet correspondent that numerous project implementation units (PIU) existing in the ministries very often fail to keep their commitments on grant and loan projects. Eventually, Tajikistan keeps borrowing money from foreign banks, but the public does not know much about the allocated funds and the final outputs of these programs.

The recent report by the UN Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) says that «more than 100 million people across the pan-European region do not have access to safe drinking water and adequate sanitation; air pollution, ground-level ozone, and nitrogen oxides shorten average life expectancy and affect healthy development of people; biodiversity declines and the loss of ecosystem continues…».

The situation in Central Asia is much worse compared to Europe. Despite some progress achieved due to sustained efforts, many environmental problems remain unsolved. Since the late 1990-s, Tajikistan has been suffering from frequent outbreaks of typhoid and malaria – the ailments, which were completely eradicated in the Soviet time. Despite dozens of millions of dollars allocated for rehabilitation of water supply systems in big cities and small settlements, the quality of drinking water remains extremely poor. Two thirds of the Tajik capital if fed by the water from Varzob river, and during seasonal floods, the water comes to consumers absolutely unpurified and even contaminated.

There are several derelict uranium tailings in Sughd province, the Kanibadam pesticide dumpsite (northern Tajikistan), and a nuclear burial ground in Faizabad district (central Tajikistan). Very little is known about these infrastructural objects inherited from the Soviet era and located in disaster prone areas in vicinity to ground waters and open reservoirs. It is expected that these problems will be discussed at a special forthcoming conference in Dushanbe scheduled for early November 2007 and supported by Iinternational Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

Three countries of Central Asia – Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan – have been implementing a program «Environment and Security» (ENVSEC) launched in 2002 in densely populated and fertile Ferghana valley (total population is about 9 million). The budget of this program supported by UN agencies and OSCE is $3,1 million.

Mahmadsharif Khakdodov, National Coordinator of ENVSEC Program in Tajikistan says that during the period of 2005-2007 the ENVSEC initiative has covered a number of activities, such as assessment of risks from toxic and radioactive dumping grounds in transboundary areas, public awareness campaigns in communities, and development of information networks. «The next phase of the initiative is focused on the climate change problems among which are the negative impact of droughts on agriculture and human health, excessive seasonal precipitation, melting of glaciers, soil erosion and desertification», says Khakdodov.

The Final Declaration adopted at the Belgrade Conference says that «there is a need to improve the management of chemicals in countries of the region and to take care of old waste legacies». Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management (SAICM) is targeted towards the reduction of environmental pollution from heavy metals and other hazardous chemicals.

Experts stressed at the Belgrade Conference that «the speed of progress varies across policy areas and the implementation of the designed programs remains the main problem». UNECE region is not making sufficient progress with access to safe drinking water and basic sanitation by 2015, as well as to a significant reduction of the rate of loss of biodiversity by 2010. Ecologists emphasise that the water supply and sanitation, integrated water resource and transboundary watercourse management should be priority areas for action. Protection of water sources and water quality are crucial for human health and sustainable development.

In this regard, Tajikistan is trying to convince its neighbors of the necessity to create a Central Asian Water Consortium. This idea has been repeatedly voiced at various international summits by the Tajik leader Emonali Rakhmon. So far, this idea has found support only from Kyrgyzstan (also an upstream country), whereas Uzbekistan stands aloof from Tajikistan’s appeals. (See EurasiaNet Archive).

«Breaking the link between economic growth and its environmental impacts is one of the key challenges facing economies in South Eastern Europe (SEE), Eastern Europe, Caucasus and Central Asia (EECCA)», says a new report «Sustainable Consumption and Production in South East Europe and Eastern Europe, the Caucasus and Central Asia», released on 11 October in Belgrade. The report was jointly prepared by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) and the European Environment Agency (EEA), and launched at the Sixth Ministerial Conference. The report provides detailed analysis in selected economic sectors: industry, food, building, transport and waste disposal.

At the Belgrade Conference, the Ministers evaluated 36 national ESD reports performed by the countries with the help of a specific set of indicators. Another milestone of the Strategy implementation was the collection of the Good practices in ESD in the UNECE region jointly published by UNECE and UNESCO. A number of examples in formal, non formal and informal education were collected from governments, NGOs and business communities in North America, Europe, Caucasus and Central Asia.

The implementation of the Belgrade Conference recommendations should be adapted to specific challenges of each country and common interest identified by subregions. Ministers agreed that securing funds for national implementation should be one of the priority tasks for governments.

«Global environmental problems affect increasing number of people. The relation between environmental problems on global and regional levels and international stability, peace and security is quite obvious», — says the Final Declaration adopted at the Conference.

Konstantin Parshin, Dushanbe

Источник:

National Endowment for Democracy expressed indignation regarding the murder of our close friend, Alisher Saipov, editor of the Uzbek-language newspaper Siyosat. The journalist was assassinated on 24 October, after a long discrediting campaign against him. This defamation is still continuing. We express our deepest condolences to Alisher’s family and colleagues.

Alisher Saipov was one of the best journalists in Central Asia. Being the editor of newspaper Siyosat, which NED supported with pride, he always spoke freely appealing to the audience at large, to those who had no access to independent media. Alisher wrote about violations of human rights, revealing manipulations of the authorities during the presidential elections, and openly telling truly stories about the Uzbek special services clandestinely acting in Kyrgyzstan. Alisher’s friends and colleagues felt anxious about his safety. This fear was caused by constant attacks against the journalist on Uzbek web sites. We also know that his office was under surveillance.

Shortly after the murder, on 30-th October, the Kyrgyz Interior Ministry issued a press release accusing Saipov of affiliation with Islamic extremist organizations and defaming his professional reputation. This is nothing but a clumsy attempt to take people’s attention off the problems described by Alisher in his publications, including threats from those who disliked his articles. Alisher’s professionalism was quite evident. He was a clever, smart and talented young man.

We can say the same about other journalists working for Siyosat. After the murder of Saipov, all the newspaper computers, documents and property had been arrested by the police. The law enforcement officers keep interrogating the newspaper staff.

Kyrgyzstan desires to become an island of liberty in Central Asia. If the government really wishes to create a positive image of the country, it should stop the defaming campaign against Saipov, and adequately protect all independent Kyrgyz journalists. The authorities should conduct an impartial investigation of the murder of Alisher Saipov.

On 5-6 November, the Russian capital will be hosting the International Grand Prix Finale of the mountainous races tournament. Davlatali Shamsov, a TV journalist from Kulyab will take part in the competition.

The runner himself told NANSMIT’s correspondent that the Mayor of Kulyab Khamid Abdulloyev helped arrange Shamsov’s trip and participation in the prestigious competition in Moscow.

Davlatali Shamsov is not and amateur in sports. Earlier, in September he took part in a 10-kilometer marathon at the 31-st International Track-and-Field Athletics Championship in the city of Korolyov, Russia. He was the 33-rd who came to the finish ribbon among 3,600 participants of the marathon. The Mayor’s office covered Tajik sportsman’s travel expenses.

http://www.asiaplus.tj/

The National Endowment for Democracy (NED) was shocked and outraged to hear the news that our good friend Alisher Saipov, editor of the Uzbek newspaper Siyosat, was murdered on October 24 following a smear campaign directed against him that has continued even after his death. We send our condolences to the family and colleagues of this beloved young man.

Alisher Saipov established himself as one of the best reporters in Central Asia. As founder and editor of the newspaper Siyosat, which NED was proud to support, he was able to reach a broad readership that has little access to independent reporting on topics that include human rights abuses in Uzbekistan, the manipulation of the upcoming presidential election there, and the criminal activities of Uzbek security services operating across the border in Kyrgyzstan. Because of his reporting of such abuses, many friends and colleagues were concerned about his safety during the period leading up to Alisher’s murder, with attacks against him on Uzbek web pages and surveillance of his office.

After his death, an October 30 press release of the Interior Ministry of Kyrgyzstan, tried to blacken Alisher’s reputation by linking his name to Islamic extremism, a crude attempt to divert attention from the real issue, which is the threat he was under from those who objected to his reporting. In fact, Alisher Saipov’s record of professionalism and courage speaks for itself. He was a bright and brave young man, who exemplified hope for the future and was a source of pride and hope for the Uzbek and Kyrgyz people.

The same is true of the other journalists associated with Siyosat, whose safety may also be at risk. Since the murder, the computers, documentation, and other property of the Siyosat newspaper have been seized by the police. The staff of the newspaper has been subjected to daily rounds of questioning by police and security officials. Other journalists in Osh, Kyrgyzstan, who have attempted to report about this case have also been denounced and harassed by the police.

Kyrgyzstan seeks to be seen as an island of freedom in Central Asia. If the government wishes to advance that image, it must distance itself from this repugnant smear campaign against Alisher, cease harassing the staff of Siyosat, and provide them and other independent journalists in Kyrgyzstan with the protection they need to continue their work. Not least, the authorities need to carry out a serious and impartial investigation of the murder of Alisher Saipov.

The Ninth Central Asian Conference «Development and self-regulation among the media in Central Asia: on the way to independent and accountable media» will be held on 1-2 November in Dushanbe.

According to the OSCE Press Center i Dushnabe, a number of issues related to advantages of self-regulation in the media will be discussed at the forthcoming conference. In particular, participants will be discussing the issues of balance between the legal personal responsibility of the media, and the development of mechanisms for self-regulation among the media in Central Asian countries.

Special attention will be paid ti the issues of self-regulation along with the improvement of professional quality of the media, and the freedom of speech.

OSCE informs that a number of media organizations and human rights watchdogs from Central Asia, Ukraine and Russia will present their reports describing the experience of self-regulation and ethical standards in their countries.

Chairman of the Tajik National Association of Independent Media (NANSMIT) Nuriddin Karshibayev is going to present a report on the situation in the sphere of media in Tajikistan and about the perspectives of self-regulation in the country.

http://www.asiaplus.tj/