Vatan, the newspaper of the progovernment Fatherland Progress Party, ceased publication temporarily after publishing an analytical article about the President's August 1996 speech to Parliament on human rights, reportedly under pressure from government officials displeased by the article. In April the Parliament passed a new law providing for freedom of access to information. A second law provides for protection of journalists' professional activity, including protection for journalists' sources, and mandates that government agencies respond to written requests for information within 30 days. At year's end, the Government had not yet demonstrated whether it was committed to implement such laws in an effective manner so as to provide a foundation for major and positive systemic change. The Uzbekistan Information Agency cooperates closely with the presidential staff to prepare and distribute all officially sanctioned news and information.
State enterprises control the printing presses.
The last opposition newspaper to be published was that of the Erk party. In 1993 it was banned and has not been published since. Magazines and weeklies have to be registered, a procedure that includes providing information about the sources of funding, means of distribution, founders, and sponsors. A resolution by the Cabinet of Ministers bans private persons and journalist collectives from founding newspapers or magazines. Foreign correspondents based in Tashkent report that the security services have harassed and threatened their translators and other local employees.