Peace is a serious necessities for our people and our country and the ongoing peace talks have raised hopes for possible achievements in this respect.
The media and the Federation of Journalists’ Organizations and Media of Afghanistan welcome and support the ongoing peace talks stating their commitment to play their constructive, unbiased, and nonpartisan role based on professional ethics and legal framework of the country.
Considering the fact that freedom of speech and the activities of free media being the biggest achievement of Afghanistan in the last eighteen [seventeen] years, and bearing in mind that no reference has been made to this value in the recent peace talks so far, this issue has raised the following concerns:
-All parties involved in the peace talks including Afghan government, international organizations and countries and Taliban movement should consider the freedom of speech, free flow of information and free media activities as fundamental principles.
-The outcome of peace talks should not neglect the liberties guaranteed in the constitution, the law of public media, the law on access to information and other legal documents in relation to media and journalists.
-Media and the Federation while rigorously support peace talks and any endeavor aiming to reach that end, are not prepared to sacrifice the values which they have achieved after years of struggle especially in the last eighteen [seventeen] years.
-During the peace talks and until a settlement is reached, all involving parties especially Taliban should guarantee the safety of journalists, media and media workers and grant access to journalists in the areas under their control for the purpose of collecting and disseminating information, and ensuring that they are not faced with any threats and their freedom of movement is not prevented throughout the country.
-We specially appeal to the Afghan government to treat the aforementioned values in this statement as a red line in its talks with the Taliban movement and its regional and international partners.
