OSCE Field Office promotes information access in south Kyrgyzstan

BATKEN, KYRGYZSTAN, 2 May 2005 - In order to develop information access in remote areas of Kyrgyzstan, the OSCE Field Office in the southern city of Osh has supported the establishment of a media centre in Batken province, which will open on 3 May.

The Batken Centre will organize training courses for journalists on covering elections, social, political and economic issues, and help develop their legal knowledge. It will promote a dialogue between the regional media, local authorities and civil society and offer free access to the Internet, long-distance telephone calls and printing.

"The Centre will offer Batken-based journalists similar facilities and training courses as their colleagues in Osh and Jalalabad," said Jerome Bouyjou, Human Dimension Officer of the OSCE Field Office in Osh. "It will help local journalists develop their professional skills and be better prepared to cover different events in the province and the country, including the forthcoming elections."

The Governor of Batken province, Sultan Aigigitov, is expected to take part in the opening of the Centre together with district and provincial officials, representatives of international organizations and non-government agencies.

Following the opening ceremony, and on the occasion of the International day of freedom of speech, Batken journalists and delegates from Osh and Jalalabat provinces will take part in a roundtable discussion on the freedom of speech.