KABUL - Vice-President Sarwar Danish on Monday renewed the government’s commitment to supporting the freedom of speech, calling the media an important value of a democratic society.
Danish expressed the views while commenting on the new position Afghanistan has secured in terms of freedom of speech. UNESCO says Afghanistan has moved from red category to green in supporting the freedom of expression.
An announcement to the effect came at UNESCO’s recent conference in Paris. Afghanistan was placed in better position.
Danish said: “I am very happy Afghanistan has been placed in a better slot in freedom of expression at the UNESCO meeting. We thank the international organisation for this decision.”
He hailed the improvement as a major achievement for the freedom of speech in the country and congratulated the Afghan government, academia, culturists, free speech supporters, Afghanistan media and society.
“I can say for sure Afghanistan’s new place shows the government’s commitment not only to the freedom of speech, but to protecting this important and credible value of democratic society from assault,” Danish said.
The joint committee of the government and media, led by the second vice-president, had always tried to support media and freedom of speech as well as prevent assaults on these important values, he said.
He thanked journalists and media personnel who struggled for the freedom of speech and shared information with the public. Their efforts led Afghanistan to a better position in terms free speech. (Pajhwok)