Some 80 local and international experts from the OSCE region and beyond discussed the lawmaking process in the light of the ongoing reforms in the country aimed at enhancing the freedom of expression and information in Uzbekistan.

“The OSCE is supporting the drafting of laws regulating the mass media sector as it seeks to contribute to the development of this sector,” said Ambassador Gyorgy Szabo, the OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan in his address to the meeting participants. “We offer the vast and varied experience in media regulation of the Organization’s participating States to our partners in Uzbekistan. This experience shows that there are different ways of implementing the basic democratic values and principles in the legislation of the OSCE area. We hope that by supporting such events we can contribute in real terms to the reform process in your country,” – he added.

During the roundtable meeting experts from Uzbekistan discussed with their counterparts from Austria, Belgium, Lithuania, China, India, Japan and Korea a wide range of issues related to legal guarantees and mechanisms of ensuring solid economic foundation for mass media activities, and introduction of market mechanisms in the information sector.

Firdavs Abdukhalikov, the Head of the National Association of Electronic Mass Media of Uzbekistan, said: “The deliberations and recommendations provided by the conference will help us develop draft laws and incorporate best international practices and experience into our activities, which can strengthen the role of the mass media in the society and enhance the constitutional rights of the citizens to the freedom of speech and choice.”