* Statement of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs

VIENNA, 3 November 2011 - The Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group (Ambassadors Bernard Fassier of France, Robert Bradtke of the United States, and Igor Popov of the Russian Federation) and Ambassador Andrzej Kasprzyk (Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office) presented their annual report of activities on November 3 to the Permanent Council of the OSCE, in light of the upcoming OSCE Ministerial Council in Vilnius.

In summarizing their efforts to mediate a lasting and peaceful settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, the Co-Chairs noted that in the past year they visited the region eight times and held fourteen separate meetings in various locations with Azerbaijani President Aliyev and Armenian President Sargsian. The Co-Chairs also crossed the Line of Contact by foot four times in the past fourteen months, demonstrating that the Line is not a permanent barrier between peoples of the region and that military coordination in implementing the ceasefire is possible when all the sides are willing.

Highlighting the continued engagement of their three governments, including at the highest level, the Co-Chairs also reiterated that there is no military solution and that political will by the sides is essential for them to make the difficult decisions required to move beyond the unacceptable status quo and achieve peace.

The Co-Chairs also described additional efforts intended to improve the atmosphere for negotiations, strengthen implementation of the ceasefire, and promote understanding among peoples of the region. The Co-Chairs plan to travel to the region again at the end of this month to further develop proposals on these issues and to discuss continuation of the negotiation process.

For PDF attachments or links to sources of further information, please visit: http://www.osce.org/mg/84738

* OSCE media freedom representative on visit to Tajikistan welcomes co-operation, offers assistance to strengthen pluralism, reform legislation

DUSHANBE, 4 November 2011 - The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Dunja Mijatović, during her official three-day visit to Tajikistan starting today offered to the country’s authorities assistance and expertise of her Office to promote media pluralism and reform legislation.

During her visit Mijatović met with Foreign Minister Hamrokhon Zarifi, Interior Minister Abdurahim Kahorov, members of the Parliament Olim Salimzoda and Akramsho Felaliev, the Head of the Committee on Television and Radio under the Government of Tajikistan Asadullo Rahmonov, the Head of Tajik Communication Service Beg Zuhurov, media non-governmental organizations and journalists.

“I appreciate the fact that Tajikistan’s doors are open for me and my Office’s expertise and assistance,” said Mijatović, who was invited by Tajikistan Foreign Minister. “My visit is very timely: legal reforms in the media sphere are planned and the preparations to switch to digital broadcasting are underway. I had constructive and fruitful discussions with the authorities and trust that steps to promote media pluralism in broadcasting and print media will be taken.”

Mijatović offered her Office’s assistance to reform the Mass Media Law and the Law on Broadcasting in Tajikistan to reflect the OSCE commitments as well as the upcoming digitalization, which she called “a good opportunity to develop Tajikistan’s broadcast sector”.

“Both state and privately-owned media should benefit from the upcoming digital switchover,” Mijatović added. “For the sake of pluralism, the state should gradually separate from its monopoly in the nationwide broadcasting TV. The time has come for a nationwide private broadcaster, and for more private regional and local print media.”

Referring to the recent civil law suits against print media filed by high-level governmental officials, the Representative called on the authorities to decriminalize defamation and make the civil court system fair for media defendants. “High demands in compensation in civil cases have nearly the same chilling effect on free media as criminal convictions,” Mijatović stressed.

“It is crucial for the productive public discourse, that public officials have a higher degree of tolerance and do not view criticism in the media as attacks against their personal rights.” She added that the Media Council, established in Tajikistan two years ago with assistance from the OSCE, could serve as the platform to adjudicate conflicts on the journalistic materials.

Mijatović said she was looking forward to conducting several joint activities agreed with the Tajik authorities, including workshops on interaction between media and governmental spokespersons, as well as law enforcement professionals, which would be implemented together with the OSCE Office in Dushanbe. She also expressed her appreciation to the authorities for their readiness to have the upcoming Central Asia Media Conference in Dushanbe on 29 and 30 November this year.

Ambassador Vikki, the Head of the OSCE Office in Tajikistan took part in the meetings.

The Representative also had a separate meeting with BBC reporter Urunboi Usmanov and Nuri Zindagi correspondent Mahmadyusuf Ismoilov, both of whom were recently released from jail, as well as with Hikmatullo Saifullozoda, a newspaper editor-in-chief who had been attacked earlier this year.

For PDF attachments or links to sources of further information, please visit: http://www.osce.org/fom/84770

* OSCE Chairmanship holds high-level energy conference in Ashgabat

ASHGABAT, 3 November 2011 – International policy makers and experts on energy diplomacy will discuss energy markets and security at a two-day OSCE Chairmanship high-level conference on “Integrating Global Energy Markets – Providing Energy Security” that started today in Ashgabat.

The conference, hosted by the Government of Turkmenistan and organized in co-operation with the Lithuanian OSCE Chairmanship, the Office of OSCE Co-ordinator of Economic and Environmental Activities and the OSCE Centre in Ashgabat, brought together experts and participants from OSCE participating States and other countries.

The event offers a forum to discuss the current state of affairs in trans-corporate energy trade and suggested mechanisms for the stable transit and diversification of energy resources in the OSCE region and beyond. Energy policy makers from OSCE participating States and representatives from international organizations and major energy companies will discuss instruments for the enhanced engagement of international organizations in the regional and multilateral energy co-operation dialogue and provide recommendations on the development of legal frameworks that meets the needs of energy producing, transit and consuming countries.

“The Lithuanian Chairmanship attaches great importance to enhancing the energy security dialogue, as was agreed by the OSCE Heads of State and Government last year in Astana. It is our hope that this conference will allow us to take a tangible step toward this goal,” said Evaldas Ignatavicius, the Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania, at the opening session.

“For the OSCE, addressing energy security means promoting co-operation, including at the regional and sub-regional level, managing the interdependence between participating States and non-state actors, and adopting a comprehensive and balanced approach that takes into account political, security, legal, economic and environmental considerations,” said OSCE Secretary General Lamberto Zannier.

Baymyrat Hojamuhammedov, the Deputy Chairman of Cabinet of Ministers of Turkmenistan, said: “It is our expectation that this conference will provide valuable impetus on energy issues ahead of next month’s Vilnius Ministerial Council, and served to advance the energy security dialogue within the OSCE.”

For PDF attachments or links to sources of further information, please visit: http://www.osce.org/ashgabat/84732