The dialogue of CNN station with Dr.Burhan Shawi CEO of the CMC
Complement to the reports which issued by Reuters about the concerns of the media from the attempt to restrict freedom of expressions and the misunderstanding that shown by the world press about the role of professional. CNN station had conducted a television interview with Dr.Burhan Shawi , the CEO of the CMC. At the beginning of his Dialogue with the station Dr.Burhan Shawi declared that the commission issued a set of publications in 2004, since it’s establishing , and they are 3 edition, and they are list of rules and regulations of broadcasting media, and the second general guidance for the media, which stated for accuracy in broadcasting dictate to news and impartiality, and non- incitement of the violence or racial or religious hatred. And the third is the rules and regulations of the media coverage during the election’s period. All that came in the articles in publications taken from the rules, conventions and international agreements. And in 2009 the pamphlet of the three above were re-printed and a plan was established to distribute it to activate the commission’s work, and to inform the entity which is non-licensed that have not paid their financial dues during these years. The commission made an expanded meeting which included media institutions in order to inform them of the necessity to register their institutions, and obtain licenses to conduct work in the Iraqi space. And the commission had already noted the unparalleled presence in the late of 2009 and the early of 2010 by local and international media institution for the purpose of legal registration at the commission.
The dialogist at CNN channel Arwa Edmon from her side didn’t object the performance of the commission, or the registration of the channels and it’s offices or (SNG), but she showed her fear from the interference of the commission in the work of media institutions by reference to the article (9) , which came in the list about opening reporters and radio and television offices. The article referred to ( that the office should produce the names of it’s employees annually and inform the commission of any changes may happened to these names.
And Dr. Shawi responded about that by stating that a meeting was held with the commission council and the article had been modified, and the commission needed only for one authorized from the channel or the office in purpose considering him as reviser to represent the channel or the office. And the dialogist also noted to the article (10) from the list which stated ( at the office to register all the devices and the equipment ) and the CEO explained this point by saying : It’s not intended all the equipment and devices , and we have no relevance with the existing channel or office, but only the license for radio transmission and equipment and which enter in frequencies field. Furthermore, Dr. Buhan Shawi added by saying : We understand the fears expressed by agencies, but we are an independent commission approved the Iraqi constitution, and working under international agreements and conventions. And the work of the commission aspires to create a free and healthy media environment in Iraq, and the evidence of that we took the responsibility of granting work license from Baghdad Operations Command, and everyone knows that it’s a security and military establishment, and at the same time we strongly reject any interference from formal or informal entity in the work of the media institutions, our belief in freedom of expression.
And the dialogist Arwa Edmon asked about the problematic that raised about knowing the source of the new or information and discover it, as Dr.Burhan Shawi responded that it’s not accurate, I’m media and believe in freedom of expression and obtain the information, and there’s no right to any relevant to force the media to detect the source of his information, and the only exception is in case that there’s issue involving national security , as it becomes an issue of state, and it will be dealt with by the supreme judicial council.
Arwa Edmon enquired about monitoring devices and asked : you maintain the channels and mass media to register for example , and all reports must be balanced and national and deleting anything that effects the government and Prime Minister, individual CEO director said : we are not intelligence or eavesdrop or security department. But also have a monitoring department to sequence the media performance and stop at the incitement and the professional violations , and working , as I mentioned , under international conventions.
And about the question of the correspondent that if anyone of the commission has the right to inter the office? Dr.Shawi responded that this item was mentioned by mistake in the list of the registration of the correspondence's offices and radio and television because It’s not belongs to them , but it belongs to communications companies and mobile phones in Iraq. As the commission has stocks in these companies and it has the right to know what occurred in it. And this point didn’t affect on mass media.
Is there any prevent from the commission on the media devices which entered across the border?
We don’t prevent the devices from entering, but we want to know the details ,if they are related to frequencies because it may disrupt the communication networks and other mass media , and if it doesn’t effect on the communication and media networks they entered the country and simply.
CNN: sometimes the government asks the mass media not o relevant the real number of the dead.
The commission doesn’t have the right to do so, and doesn’t interfere in it, and the commission ratify the hundreds of complaints as there’s various formal entity to sue the channels through us. But we tell the concern channels that there’s a complaint against them, and the channels duty to respond to that.
Dr. Shawi added : that the idea of establishing commission is a part of freedom elimination of freedom and break the central and I should add an item here about monitoring, we have the monitor but not to monitoring the radio and television, and even if we hand a part we must licensed from Supreme Judicial Council. And there’s a challenge council to the entity that aims to challenging any decision. And I’m ready to answer and clarify any queries you would like it.
Then Arwa Edmon the correspondence of the CNN revealed her satisfaction about these declaration and noted that the proportion of the concerns that committee was reduced, but she aims to hold a meeting between the commission and the foreign agencies in order to formulate a joint document with the foreign mass media that working in Iraq.
