Keep Us Strong WikiLeaks logo

Currently released so far... 97115 / 251,287

Articles

Browse latest releases

Browse by creation date

Browse by origin

A B C D F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z

Browse by tag

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
ETRD EAGR ETTC EAID ECON EFIN ECIN EINV ELAB EAIR ENRG EPET EWWT ECPS EIND EMIN ELTN EC ETMIN EUC EZ ET ELECTIONS ENVR EU EUN EG EINT ER ECONOMICS ES EMS ENIV EEB EN ECE ECOSOC EK ENVIRONMENT EFIS EI EWT ENGRD ECPSN EXIM EIAD ERIN ECPC EDEV ENGY ECTRD EPA ESTH ECCT EINVECON ENGR ERTD EUR EAP EWWC ELTD EL EXIMOPIC EXTERNAL ETRDEC ESCAP ECO EGAD ELNT ECONOMIC ENV ETRN EIAR EUMEM ENRGPARMOTRASENVKGHGPGOVECONTSPLEAID EREL ECOM ECONETRDEAGRJA ETCC ETRG ECONOMY EMED ETR ENERG EITC EFINOECD EURM EENG ERA EXPORT ENRD ECONEINVETRDEFINELABETRDKTDBPGOVOPIC EGEN EBRD EVIN ETRAD ECOWAS EFTA ECONETRDBESPAR EGOVSY EPIN EID ECONENRG EDRC ESENV ETT EB ENER ELTNSNAR ECHEVARRIA ETRC EPIT EDUC ESA EFI ENRGY ESCI EE EAIDXMXAXBXFFR EETC ECIP EIAID EIVN EBEXP ESTN EING EGOV ETRA EPETEIND ELAN ETRDGK EAIDRW ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS EPEC ENVI ELN EAG EPCS EPRT EPTED ETRB EUM EAIDS EFIC EFINECONEAIDUNGAGM EAIDAR ESF EIDN ELAM EDU EV EAIDAF ECN EDA EXBS EINTECPS ENRGTRGYETRDBEXPBTIOSZ EPREL EAC EINVEFIN ETA EAGER EINDIR ECA ECLAC ELAP EITI EUCOM ECONEFINETRDPGOVEAGRPTERKTFNKCRMEAID EARG ELDIN EINVKSCA ENNP EFINECONCS EFINTS ECCP ETC EAIRASECCASCID EINN ETRP EAIDNI EFQ ECOQKPKO EGPHUM EBUD ECONEINVEFINPGOVIZ ENERGY ELB EINDETRD EMI ECONEFIN EIB EURN ETRDEINVTINTCS EIN EFIM ETIO ELAINE EMN EATO EWTR EIPR EINVETC ETTD ETDR EIQ ECONCS EPPD ENRGIZ EISL ESPINOSA ELEC EAIG ESLCO EUREM ENTG ERD EINVECONSENVCSJA EEPET EUNCH ECINECONCS ETRO ETRDECONWTOCS ECUN EFND EPECO EAIRECONRP ERGR ETRDPGOV ECPN ENRGMO EPWR EET EAIS EAGRE EDUARDO EAGRRP EAIDPHUMPRELUG EICN ECONQH EVN EGHG ELBR EINF EAIDHO EENV ETEX ERNG ED
KMDR KPAO KPKO KJUS KCRM KGHG KFRD KWMN KDEM KTFN KHIV KGIC KIDE KSCA KNNP KHUM KIPR KSUM KISL KIRF KCOR KRCM KPAL KWBG KN KS KOMC KSEP KFLU KPWR KTIA KSEO KMPI KHLS KICC KSTH KMCA KVPR KPRM KE KU KZ KFLO KSAF KTIP KTEX KBCT KOCI KOLY KOR KAWC KACT KUNR KTDB KSTC KLIG KSKN KNN KCFE KCIP KGHA KHDP KPOW KUNC KDRL KV KPREL KCRS KPOL KRVC KRIM KGIT KWIR KT KIRC KOMO KRFD KUWAIT KG KFIN KSCI KTFIN KFTN KGOV KPRV KSAC KGIV KCRIM KPIR KSOC KBIO KW KGLB KMWN KPO KFSC KSEAO KSTCPL KSI KPRP KREC KFPC KUNH KCSA KMRS KNDP KR KICCPUR KPPAO KCSY KTBT KCIS KNEP KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KNNB KGCC KINR KPOP KMFO KENV KNAR KVIR KDRG KDMR KFCE KNAO KDEN KGCN KICA KIMMITT KMCC KLFU KMSG KSEC KUM KCUL KMNP KSMT KCOM KOMCSG KSPR KPMI KRAD KIND KCRP KAUST KWAWC KTER KCHG KRDP KPAS KITA KTSC KPAOPREL KWGB KIRP KJUST KMIG KLAB KTFR KSEI KSTT KAPO KSTS KLSO KWNN KPOA KHSA KNPP KPAONZ KBTS KWWW KY KJRE KPAOKMDRKE KCRCM KSCS KWMNCI KESO KWUN KPLS KIIP KEDEM KPAOY KRIF KGICKS KREF KTRD KFRDSOCIRO KTAO KJU KWMNPHUMPRELKPAOZW KEN KO KNEI KEMR KKIV KEAI KWAC KRCIM KWCI KFIU KWIC KCORR KOMS KNNO KPAI KBWG KTTB KTBD KTIALG KILS KFEM KTDM KESS KNUC KPA KOMCCO KCEM KRCS KWBGSY KNPPIS KNNPMNUC KWN KERG KLTN KALM KCCP KSUMPHUM KREL KGH KLIP KTLA KAWK KWMM KVRP KVRC KAID KSLG KDEMK KX KIF KNPR KCFC KFTFN KTFM KPDD KCERS KMOC KDEMAF KMEPI KEMS KDRM KEPREL KBTR KEDU KNP KIRL KNNR KMPT KISLPINR KTPN KA KJUSTH KPIN KDEV KTDD KAKA KFRP KWNM KTSD KINL KJUSKUNR KWWMN KECF KWBC KPRO KVBL KOM KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KEDM KFLD KLPM KRGY KNNF KICR KIFR KM KWMNCS KAWS KLAP KPAK KDDG KCGC KID KNSD KMPF KPFO KDP KCMR KRMS KNPT KNNNP KTIAPARM KDTB KNUP KPGOV KNAP KNNC KUK KSRE KREISLER KIVP KQ KTIAEUN KPALAOIS KRM KISLAO KWM KFLOA
PHUM PINR PTER PGOV PREL PREF PL PM PHSA PE PARM PINS PK PUNE PO PALESTINIAN PU PBTS PROP PTBS POL POLI PA PGOVZI POLMIL POLITICAL PARTIES POLM PD POLITICS POLICY PAS PMIL PINT PNAT PV PKO PPOL PERSONS PING PBIO PH PETR PARMS PRES PCON PETERS PRELBR PT PLAB PP PAK PDEM PKPA PSOCI PF PLO PTERM PJUS PSOE PELOSI PROPERTY PGOVPREL PARP PRL PNIR PHUMKPAL PG PREZ PGIC PBOV PAO PKK PROV PHSAK PHUMPREL PROTECTION PGOVBL PSI PRELPK PGOVENRG PUM PRELKPKO PATTY PSOC PRIVATIZATION PRELSP PGOVEAIDUKNOSWGMHUCANLLHFRSPITNZ PMIG PREC PAIGH PROG PSHA PARK PETER POG PHUS PPREL PS PTERPREL PRELPGOV POV PKPO PGOVECON POUS PGOVPRELPHUMPREFSMIGELABEAIDKCRMKWMN PWBG PMAR PREM PAR PNR PRELPGOVEAIDECONEINVBEXPSCULOIIPBTIO PARMIR PGOVGM PHUH PARTM PN PRE PTE PY POLUN PPEL PDOV PGOVSOCI PIRF PGOVPM PBST PRELEVU PGOR PBTSRU PRM PRELKPAOIZ PGVO PERL PGOC PAGR PMIN PHUMR PVIP PPD PGV PRAM PINL PKPAL PTERE PGOF PINO PHAS PODC PRHUM PHUMA PREO PPA PEPFAR PGO PRGOV PAC PRESL PORG PKFK PEPR PRELP PREFA PNG PGOVPHUMKPAO PRELECON PINOCHET PFOR PGOVLO PHUMBA PRELC PREK PHUME PHJM POLINT PGOVPZ PGOVKCRM PGOVE PHALANAGE PARTY PECON PEACE PROCESS PLN PRELSW PAHO PEDRO PRELA PASS PPAO PGPV PNUM PCUL PGGV PSA PGOVSMIGKCRMKWMNPHUMCVISKFRDCA PGIV PRFE POGOV PEL PBT PAMQ PINF PSEPC POSTS PHUMPGOV PVOV PHSAPREL PROLIFERATION PENA PRELTBIOBA PIN PRELL PGOVPTER PHAM PHYTRP PTEL PTERPGOV PHARM PROTESTS PRELAF PKBL PRELKPAO PKNP PARMP PHUML PFOV PERM PUOS PRELGOV PHUMPTER PARAGRAPH PERURENA PBTSEWWT PCI PETROL PINSO PINSCE PQL PEREZ PBS

Browse by classification

Community resources

courage is contagious

Viewing cable 07KABUL1748, MORE MODERATE THAN EXPECTED MEDIA LAW PASSES LOWER

If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs

Understanding cables
Every cable message consists of three parts:
  • The top box shows each cables unique reference number, when and by whom it originally was sent, and what its initial classification was.
  • The middle box contains the header information that is associated with the cable. It includes information about the receiver(s) as well as a general subject.
  • The bottom box presents the body of the cable. The opening can contain a more specific subject, references to other cables (browse by origin to find them) or additional comment. This is followed by the main contents of the cable: a summary, a collection of specific topics and a comment section.
To understand the justification used for the classification of each cable, please use this WikiSource article as reference.

Discussing cables
If you find meaningful or important information in a cable, please link directly to its unique reference number. Linking to a specific paragraph in the body of a cable is also possible by copying the appropriate link (to be found at theparagraph symbol). Please mark messages for social networking services like Twitter with the hash tags #cablegate and a hash containing the reference ID e.g. #07KABUL1748.
Reference ID Created Released Classification Origin
07KABUL1748 2007-05-24 14:55 2011-08-24 01:00 UNCLASSIFIED Embassy Kabul
VZCZCXRO5635
PP RUEHDBU RUEHIK RUEHPW RUEHYG
DE RUEHBUL #1748/01 1441455
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 241455Z MAY 07
FM AMEMBASSY KABUL
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8317
INFO RUCNAFG/AFGHANISTAN COLLECTIVE
RUEHZG/NATO EU COLLECTIVE
RHMFIUU/HQ USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC
RUEKJCS/OSD WASHINGTON DC
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC
RHEHAAA/NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WASHINGTON DC
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 4120
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KABUL 001748 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR SA/FO, SCA/A, S/CT, S/CR, SCA/PAB, EUR/RPM 
STATE PASS TO USAID FOR AID/ANE, AID/DCHA/DG 
NSC FOR HARRIMAN 
OSD FOR SHIVERS 
CENTCOM FOR CG CJTF-82 POLAD 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM AF
SUBJECT: MORE MODERATE THAN EXPECTED MEDIA LAW PASSES LOWER 
HOUSE 
 
 
------ 
SUMMARY 
------- 
 
1. (SBU)  On May 22 the Lower House of Parliament passed the 
Media Law.  The text is less restrictive than the law 
currently in force, based on a presidential decree.  It 
allows foreigners to invest in all forms of media.  Radio 
Television Afghanistan (RTA) will not be under direct 
Ministerial control (as previous drafts proposed), but will 
remain "within the structures of the state."   The Chair of 
the High Media Council (HMC), responsible for setting general 
media policy, will be elected by members of the Council.  It 
was previously proposed that the Minister of Information and 
Culture would be the permanent Chair.  Concern about media 
licensing lingers since it will be decided by the Minister of 
Information, which gives him considerable control over who is 
allowed to open a new media outlet.  As Parliament is 
scheduled to go on recess in two weeks, the Upper House may 
not vote on the law until August.  END SUMMARY. 
 
------------------------------------------- 
Upper House May Not Pass Bill Before Recess 
------------------------------------------- 
 
2.  (SBU)  Having passed the Lower House on May 22, 
Afghanistan's amended Media Law now moves to the Upper House, 
which will have 15 days to approve the bill or propose 
amendments.  The text is less restrictive than the current 
law, which came into force based on a Presidential decree 
prior to the Parliament coming into play.  Parliament's 
summer recess is scheduled to begin on June 6, ten working 
days after the Upper House receives the bill.  There has been 
speculation that the Parliamentary session will be extended, 
but thus far no action has been taken.  If there are no 
suggested changes, the bill will then move to the President 
for signature.  If amendments are proposed, a joint 
commission composed of MPs from each house will be formed to 
determine the final text of the bill. 
 
-------------------------------------- 
High Council for Media Will Set Policy 
-------------------------------------- 
 
3.  (SBU)  The High Council for Media (HCM) established in 
the law will set the general media policy for all media 
outlets.  The Council will be comprised of members from 
various groups, including GOA representatives, journalists, 
and civil society members.  The HCM Chair will be elected by 
HCM members.  This is a positive change from previous drafts, 
which proposed that the Minister of Information and Culture 
be appointed permanent Chair.  The election process allows 
the Council to carry out its mandate with a higher degree of 
independence from the Ministry than if the Minister had been 
appointed permanent Chair.  The HCM will nominate candidates 
for the Commission for Media Affairs, the complaints 
committee created to examine and manage media-related 
complaints, and the head of state-run Radio Television 
Afghanistan (RTA) and will oversee RTA's budget.  The 
President will approve these nominations. 
 
--------------------------------------------- ------ 
Commission for Media Affairs Will Handle Complaints 
--------------------------------------------- ------ 
 
4.  (SBU)  The law also establishes the Council for Media 
Affairs (CMA) to examine and investigate complaints and 
offenses.  If the CMA is unable to settle a case, it will 
transfer cases to the relevant judicial authorities. 
According to the draft law, there will be a special court for 
media complaints.  The specific composition and operation of 
the court remains to be determined.  Investigation on cases 
is therefore entirely handled by the CMA instead of the 
Attorney General's office.  The Commission will be composed 
of nine "professionals" from civil society groups, 
journalists, "intellectuals", and GOA representatives.  Two 
 
KABUL 00001748  002 OF 002 
 
 
Lower House and two Upper House Parliamentarians will be 
observers.  The nine members will be nominated by the High 
Media Council and approved by the President. 
 
--------------------------------------------- -------------- 
Radio Television Afghanistan Commission Protects Integrity 
--------------------------------------------- -------------- 
 
5.  (SBU)  The Radio Television Afghanistan (RTA) Commission, 
also created in the law, will have responsibility for 
ensuring the independence of RTA is respected.  RTA will not 
fall under direct Ministerial control, which is a positive 
development, but will remain "within the structures of the 
state." (Note: This phrase remains to be clarified.  End 
Note).  The RTA Commission will propose and implement the RTA 
budget, issue an annual report to the Lower House's Cultural 
and Religious Affairs Committee, and implement the RTA 
charter and policy designed by the High Council for Media. 
The Commission will be composed of one mullah, one lawyer, 
one engineer (type of engineer is not specified), two 
journalists, one civil society representative, and one 
"artist."  The High Council of Media will propose the head of 
RTA, who will automatically chair the RTA Commission. 
 
------- 
COMMENT 
------- 
 
6.  (SBU)  The version that the Lower House passed is less 
restrictive than the law currently in force and certainly 
less restrictive than earlier drafts.  Lingering concern over 
licensing remains as authority will be held by the  Minister 
of Information, giving him considerable control over who is 
allowed to open a new media outlet.  The EU, which has been 
very active in lobbying for several specific amendments to 
the law, agrees that the final draft is better than they 
expected, and noted that several of their proposed changes 
had been taken into account in the final draft.  END COMMENT. 
WOOD