TASHKENT, May 5. /“Dunyo” IA/. Turkiston Palace in Tashkent hosted a solemn ceremony of awarding the winners of the International Competition for the XVI National Award “Oltin Qalam” (Golden Pencil), reports “Dunyo” IA correspondent.
The event, dedicated to the World Press Freedom Day, was attended by senators, deputies, representatives of various ministries and agencies, public organizations, employees of press services, diplomatic corps accredited in the country and international organizations, journalists.
Foreign journalists were also awarded. Applications for the competition were received from more than 20 countries of the world, which testifies to the growing interest abroad in the ongoing events in Uzbekistan, its domestic and foreign policy, and the dynamically pursued comprehensive reforms.
At the event, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Uzbekistan Furkat Sidikov presented the winners among foreign media with a special diploma, the “Oltin Qalam” badge and a statuette, and the winners will also receive cash prizes.
In the nomination “For the best article of foreign journalists about Uzbekistan”, the first place went to the Editorial Office of the Turkish Radio and Television Corporation (TRT) in Uzbekistan.
Second places were taken by:
Urinboy Usmonov – Correspondent of “Khalk Ovozi” (Voice of People) newspaper (Tajikistan);
Barbara Dietrich – CEO of Diplomatic World magazine (Belgium);
Khalid Taimur Akram – Editor of the National Herald Tribune, Executive Director of the Center for Global and Strategic Studies (Pakistan);
Sanjay Kumar – Journalist of The Korea Herald newspaper (Republic of Korea).
