Public Information Office (PIO)
The United Nations Mission of Observers in Tajikistan (UNMOT) Public Information Office was formed by the Special Representative of the Secretary-General (SRSG) for Tajikistan Gerd Merrem on 16 June 1997 with the appointment of Hasmik Egian as Public Information Officer (PIO), who also served as the Spokesman for UNMOT. The stated functions of the Public Information Office included publicizing the Mission’s activities through visual and printed media, such as the publication and distribution of the UNMOT newsletter, and liaising with local, regional and international media outlets to drive coverage of UNMOT activities related to the peace process to as wide an audience as possible. The Public Information Office communicated with Central Asian NGOs engaged in public information initiatives.
The series primarily consists of media analyses (in Russian) of local and regional coverage of UNMOT and the political and security situation in Tajikistan, with particular focus on inter-Tajik negotiations. Media outlets mentioned in these analyses include:
Radio and Television Broadcast Outlets:
BBC World Service
Radio Svoboda
Turkmen TV
Taliban Radio “Voice of Shariah”
Tajik TV News program “Akhbor”
Russian TV “Vremya”
News agency Itar-Tass
Radio Iran Hurson
Russian TV “Novosti”
Radio “Liberty”
Radio “Voice of Free Tajikistan”
Radio Iran
Radio “Free Tajikistan”
Radio Voice of Russia
Radio Khuroson
Radio “Uzodi”
Newspapers:
“Leninabadskaya Pravda” – an outlet of the provincial government of Leninabad
“Tirozy Djakhon” - City of Hukumat
“Eti-Khod” - Communist Party
“Unity” - Socialist Party
Also included in the records of the UNMOT Public Information Office are daily press briefings issued by the office of the Spokesman for the Secretary-General in UN-NY. The briefings summarize daily activities of the United Nations Secretariat and its organs, and mention status updates, funding information, and developments related to UNMOT. Additionally, there are memoranda exchanged between the Spokesman at headquarters and the PIO/Spokesman for UNMOT in Dushanbe. The memoranda provide information about the PIO/Spokeman’s activities and media projects. Periodic reports describe the efforts of the Public Information Office to establish and maintain efficient contact with international media, to increase the office’s presence at Tajik cultural activities, and to increase awareness of the activities of UNMOT in Tajikistan.
S-1862 also contains a collection of photographs that document the activities of UNMOT. Photographs are in color and black and white, and most are accompanied by 35 millimeter negatives. Photographs depict: activities of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General (SRSG); activities at UNMOT headquarters in Dushanbe; meetings and press conferences attended by UNMOT officials and the President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmonov, and the leader of the United Tajik Opposition (UTO) Sayid Abdulloh Nuri; activities of the Chief Military Observer; briefings and patrols of UNMOT military personnel; transportation of the casket of UNMOT Lieutenant Wolfgang Sponner, who was killed in Kurgan Tube on 18 September 1995 in an exchange of fire; visits of UNMOT staff to Tashkent, Uzbekistan, and Tehran, Iran; cultural events attended by local civilians and UNMOT staff; United Nations-led training events with local civilians; and humanitarian aid activities carried out by UNMOT personnel.
