New Tajik-Afghan-Iranian TV Network Discussed
February 18, 2009
DUSHANBE -- Iran and Tajikistan are discussing the creation of a Tajik-Afghan-Iranian TV network with Iran providing the equipment, Afghanistan providing the air time, and Tajikistan providing the studios.
Tajik State Committee of TV and Radio Director Asadullo Rahmonov told RFE/RL's Tajik Service that the director of Iranian International Broadcasting arrived in Dushanbe on February 17 to discuss ways to strengthen the two countries' partnership, which was established in 2007.
Experts say that the main obstacles to the launching of the network are Afghanistan's multilingual audiences and policy differences between the countries, such as Iran's insistence that female moderators wear the hijab.
Rahmonov said he hopes that the sides can find a compromise on all issues.