DUSHANBE, December 13, Asia-Plus  -- Increasing public access to official information as well as fostering effective interaction between state administration bodies and journalists were major topic of a two-day training seminar that concluded in Dushanbe yesterday. 

The seminar, staged by the by the Office of the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media jointly with President’s Executive Office with support from the OSCE Center in Dushanbe, brought together more than 30 participants, including journalists and governmental press and public information officials to discuss the main challenges encountered in communication between journalists and state officials.  International and local experts conducted sessions on the legal and ethical principles of interaction between two groups, as well as global standards related to access to information.  

Speaking at the meeting, Ambassador Vladimir Pryakhin, Head of the OSCE Center in Dushanbe, said, "Authorities'' political will to promote access to information, combined with a professional and responsible press, stimulates the development of society," said.

Saidmurod Fattoyev, State Adviser to the Tajik President for Social Development and Public Relations, noted that “the State guarantees all citizens equal rights of access and dissemination of information. This is enshrined into the country''s legislation."  

"We hope that this event, designed to encourage professional dialogue between state authorities and journalists, will help achieve good co-operation between them. Such co-operation will enable the media to convey information on matters of public interest, enhancing public participation in the decision-making processes," said Aleksandr Boldyrev, the Senior Adviser of the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media.

The seminar participants pointed to the necessity of expanding cooperation to promote development of society and the State.  

The event was part of a series of training programs launched by the Office of the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media in 2005 to consolidate relations between state press officers and media.