"Internews": Absence of political will of the President of KR brakes the creation of public TV

BISHKEK (AEIpress) - President of KR and his surroundings do not wish to reform National Teleradio corporation of KR (KTR) in Public TV and Radio. The decree about the creation of the Supervisory council of National Teleradio corporation of KR (KTR), was signed on November 14, 2006 by the President of KR Bakiev K.S. is the proof. It was declared today on November 15, by the executive director of PA "Internews" Elvira Sarieva, at press conference in AEIpress .

In this connection representatives of some nongovernmental organizations and civil sector have addressed with the letter to the deputies of the Jogorku Kenesh in which they have asked members of parliament to overcome the veto of the President of KR on the law project « About National telebroadcasting corporation of KR » and, thus, to realize the rights of citizens on access to the objective information and equal rights in development of the media of market of Kyrghyzstan. The reform NTRK of KR in Public is possible only on legislative level within the framework of the law accepted by deputies of the JK of KR.

« Instead of the structural changes leading to real reform, the President of KR suggests to create the under inspection Supervisory council on KTR which will not have any decision functions. The key moment of reforming KTR in Public is not only creation of the Supervisory council of Public TV, but also granting of the right to the Supervisory council to appoint the basic head of the speaker - the general director through open competition. While it agrees the given decree:

- The President of KR himself appoints the general director of NTRK of KR;

- The President of KR himself appoints members of Supervisory council of NTRK of KR;

- Representatives of a civil society have no opportunity to nominate representatives in Supervisory council NTRK of KR;

- Supervisory council NTRK of KR includes representatives of labour collective NTRK of KR that contradicts the standard rules of organizational structure », - is spoken in circulation.

As considers the signed ones under the reference, the Kirghiz monopolist in sphere of tele-radio broadcasting - KTR - already passed through it in 2002 when the ex-president Akaev A.A. has created Supervisory council KTR which has not had a real force. « Unfortunately, this pitiable experience has not taught a lesson to the head of the country. The president of KR and his surroundings who prevent development of media of the market of Kyrghyzstan do not wish to lose administrative media resources. Instead of it new forms of an opposition to reform of the state monopolist in sphere of tele-radio broadcasting to what the following facts evidently testify are invented:

- The president of KR has imposed the veto on the law projectl « About National telebroadcasting corporationof KR », accepted by the deputies of JK of KR in June 2006 in which main principles of Public TV are established;

- The president of KR has not fulfiled the promise, given to the voters during the pre-election campaign about reform of NTRK of KR in Public;

- The president and the Government of KR do not pursue the scheme actions on realization of the State strategy of struggle against corruption in the Kirghiz Republic where one of actions in formation of an anticorruption politics are supposed to reorganize National telebroadcasting corporation of the Kirghiz Republic in the Public broadcasting company. This document is authorized by Bakiev K.S. on June 21, 2005 », - spoken in the letter.

Under the reference have subscribed:

Sarieva Elvira, executive director of PA "Internews",

Marat Tokoev, chairman of PA "Journalists",

Elena Voronina, a member of Public Chamber on Questions of mass-media,

Ylym Karypbekov, director of PF « Institute Media of the Representative » in ER,

Ernis Mamyrkanov, executive director of Association of Regional Teleradio broadcasting of KR,

Shamaral Maichiev, Media Representative of KR