President on the freedom of speech

"The freedom of speech does not give a right for a calumny", - Nursultan Nazarbaev, president of Kazakhstan, said today, on March 31, speaking at the first session of the public council on mass media by the head of State. In any State the freedom of speech does not mean an uncontrollability, it does not abolish the responsibility of mass media before the society, the president stressed.

N.Nazarbaev reminded that "during these years we have passed a new law on mass media, strengthening rights and freedoms of mass media in our country, the censorship has been forbidden, the monopoly of the State on mass media has been abolished, tax benefits for electronic and printed mass media were introduced, governmental and non-governmental mass media work on the State orders". The president also reminded that out of 1790 mass media existing in Kazakhstan 80% are independent. "An economic and political field for your activities has been created", - the head of State said, speaking to the members of Council, among which there were journalists from the leading mass media of the Republic.

"There are wonderful conditions for cooperation between the mass media and the authority in Kazakhstan", - N.Nazarbaev said. "It's time to work as partners, it's necessary to reach a civilised form of disputes resolution", - the head of State appealed.