UNESCO Kabul
06-09-2002 0:00

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Speaking at the conclusion of the seminar that was co-funded by UNESCO, the BBC, Internews and the Baltic Media Centre, Deputy Minister of Information and Culture, Mr. A.H. Mubarez, said that the seminar “opened a new chapter in free press in this country”. He said he was very proud that the meeting took place “at this sensitive time in the country’s history”. Mr. Mubarez went on to say that the seminar was a very good opportunity for national and international colleagues to get together and discuss matters openly. He told the closing ceremony that he was “very pleased that the seminar is again calling for free expression to be included in the Constitution”.

The three page Kabul Declaration covers legal and regulatory issues, public service broadcasting and independent media. It calls on the Afghanistan authorities to completely review all laws that currently impede the work of journalists. It also recommends changing licensing provisions of the new Press Law to enable anyone to publish newspapers and magazines. The Declaration calls on the Ministry of Information and Culture to begin immediately to establish an Independent Broadcasting Authority that can allocate frequencies “under well-defined criteria, which are transparent and accountable”.

On public service broadcasting (PSB), the Kabul Declaration recommends that Radio-Television Afghanistan be transformed into a public service broadcaster under a time-bound framework. The task would be completed by June, 2004. The Kabul Declaration also calls for “the early creation of an independent board of governors that reflects Afghanistan’s diversity” and seeks international donor assistance in re-building broadcasting infrastructure. In the same vein, the Declaration recommends that the State-funded Bakhtar Information Agency become a public entity, independent of Government, and able to compete with privately owned news agencies.

Journalists are encouraged by the Kabul Declaration to form professional associations to advocate policies and actions in the area of freedom of expression. This includes “participating in the drafting of laws favourable to the public’s right to know”. The document concludes by recommending that “a committee of journalists and other free media advocates be formed to work with the Ministry of Information and Culture in carrying out the goals presented in this Declaration”.

More than 120 journalists, media professionals and NGO’s from Afghanistan and abroad attended the seminar. The final session was held against the backdrop of a large bomb explosion, which was detonated Thursday in the centre of Kabul killing some 12 people and wounding more than 40 others. As news of the bombing, which occurred close to the Ministry of Information and Culture’s headquarters building, became known, the seminar stood for one minute’s silence to remember the dead. Apart from killing and maiming, the explosive device caused physical damage to the Ministry, including the shattering of most of its windows. UNESCO, which is Programme Secretariat (lead agency) for Culture, Media and Sport in Afghanistan has an office in the Ministry’s building. It was unattended at the time and no UNESCO personnel were injured in the attack.