| President message to the conference |
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One of the great achievements of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan for the last eight years has been the expansion of media and the right to freedom of speech. Today, we have tens of media sources, TV channels, press publications, magazines and many newspapers that are actively providing services. This expansion has really been great and ensures us that in the future we will be witnessing more triumphs in this matter. Providing transparent and impartial information with regards to the modern journalistic principles, without attacking on individual’s honour and dignity, fighting against the challenges facing civil society, corruption, cultivation and trafficking of drugs, causing unrest and subversive activities, terroristic and anti-government attacks, advocating people’s rights, civic freedom, and other incompatible circumstances that the government and society are encountered with, are the facts, duty and a sole responsibility towards which media can demonstrate a meaningful role in implementing them that ultimately leads media to find its place as a back bone for ensuring democracy. It is worth stating that the journalists and media staff while performing their prestigious duties is faced with numerous problems and others did lose their lives in this path. The government treats freedom of expression and legal media related activities as one of its main duties and will strive to provide all the possible assistance in resolving the existing challenges faced by media. I am pleased that Mediothek Afghanistan has arranged this conference with the financial assistance of the Ministry of Finance of Germany in which journalists from the neighboring country Pakistan have also participated. In this conference, the following matters will be given a prime focus: The status of the legal media, media law, media security and other issues concerning the main topic and attendees of this event will exchange their views for the betterment of the media status in the country. I am hopeful that the end result of this conference for the individuals involved in this field and for those responsible, will proved to be efficacious. At the end, I express my gratitude for the organizers of this event and wish them all the best in their future endeavors. Hamid Karzai President of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan |
