Media is for society to control processes in the country
How did the media space change during these years? What problems do professional journalists face today? Whether the intergenerational continuity of journalists' generation still exists? How many members are in the Union today? How does the construction of Journalists Houses in Astana and Almaty go?
The Union of Journalists of Kazakhstan was established 50 years ago. That was difficult postwar time. Of course the tasks have changed after gaining the independence as well as the media space changed in the crisis.
Concerning the Kazakh media space I would like to note that the most important thing today is that the country has a choice. If you don't like "EuroNews" you may watch "Khabar", if you don't want to read "Kazakhstanskaya pravda" you may buy "Taszhargan" of "Republic".
Concerning the whole activity of the Union, I can state that we are in good relations with state bodies; we take part in discussions of all legislative acts on the mass media, trying to hold our ground in working groups. We believe that the Union of Journalists is a public platform, allowing us to give our views that differ from the generally accepted sometimes.
Today we have five thousand members and we work actively with them. Our Union is the most active and large among 12 creative unions of the country. Besides, we re-register those people who were members of the Union of Journalists of the USSR. Our main task is protection of rights of journalists and we have only one position here - no double standards.
I have chaired the Union for the second term already. Task to build our own House of Journalists was set for the second term. And we have built it in Astana. The money for the construction was loaned. Construction of the House of Journalists in Almaty is planned as well. We have a good plot, resources. The construction will apparently be started next year. The House of Journalists is necessary, as long as we want to invite all mass media to work together. We plan to open such Houses in regional centers as well.
Does the government give enough attention to the mass media and what about fulfillment of obligations on legislation liberalization on mass media on the eve of the OSCE chairmanship? In your opinion, how is the state informational policy reformed?
Frankly speaking, the state pays not enough attention to the media because the amendments to the law on mass media adopted during the last five years did not improve our status.
But the life goes on and we keep on working - members of our Union are represented in different commissions: in the Parliament, in the Governmental working groups, at the level of the Ministry of Culture and Information. We have partnership relations with all branches of government without mutual commitments.
I think that journalists are the specialists popular both among the authorities and society. The media is a kind of bridge between the society and the government. Through the press the society can control over the processes taking place in the state since in the absence of opposition the press can play a role of natural opponent of power.
As for the OSCE chairmanship - it is a high mission that offers big hope that the issues regarding Kazakhstan's legislation will be addressed. However I consider such issues as internal problems of the states and call on the authorities to solve them in advance and without exterior help.
You have touched upon a draft law on Internet regulation. Is the specificity of Internet media considered in this context? Is there any opportunity and need to regulate Internet? What should be the concept of KazNet development?
The development of KazNet is a difficult problem despite the number of users constantly grows. We raised this question many times. It is quite impossible to control over the Internet. However I absolutely agree and ready to fight against web porn, especially the child one, demonstration of terrorism and nationalism. We as the patriots of our country are interested in it as well. In this regard we support the state. But we should not forget that the Internet is the new technologies, which develop our youth. The Internet is a progress due to which our younger generation perfectly knows the world.
I stand for avoidance of double standards in the issues of the Internet regulation. Every person including top officials who open a website or a blog should bear responsibility. The procedure of registration should be open and transparent.
Thank you for the interview!