US Looking to Promote Human Rights Online Says Feltman

Doha, February 24 (QNA) - The United States is committed to facilitating the free flow of information and is mulling the idea of promoting human rights online, US Assistant Secretary of State for Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs said here Thursday.
Speaking at a panel discussion "Media Freedom in the Middle East and North Africa A Policy Perspective' hosted by Northwestern University of Qatar, Jeffrey Feltman said, "The US government is committed to free flow of information. We need to work towards a world in which access to information and networks can bring people closer and expand the definition of a global community.
"We see this free flow of information as an inherent right. We are looking now to promote the idea of human rights online as much as promoting human rights offline as been a corner stone of US foreign policy for some time."
The rights of individuals to express their views freely; to petition their leaders; to do things like worship according to their own beliefs - these rights are universal in our view whether they are exercised in public square or whether they come out through individual blogs. The freedom to assemble also needs to apply in cyber space, that's a firm belief of the US, he said.
"We are always comfortable with the information we see circulating. We don't always agree with it. We don't think it's fair or accurate. But we don't think there should be a crackdown on the type of space that is being created in cyber space," said Feltman who was former US Amabassador to the Republic of Lebanon.
Feltman cited US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's comment to stress the role of the Internet. He said, Secretary Clinton gave a speech on the Internet, a couple of weeks ago, in which she talked about how the market place, the coffee house, the cafe of the 21st century is the Internet, that's where the exchange of ideas is taking place today. We are fully supportive of this even at times if the information exchange is not exactly complimentary of us as US government employees. We don't want to see suppression of the Internet.

"When countries curtail Internet freedom, we believe they place limits on their own economic future," said Feltman. "Barring criticism of officials makes governments more susceptible to corruption, make them less accountable that in turn creates economic distortions which will have long-term impacts. We are seeing some of these playing out in this region today. So freedom of thought and level playing made possible by the rule of law are part of what fuels innovative economies."
Feltman who was part of Clinton's delegation to Doha last month reiterated her message. "She delivered a clear and honest message to leaders in the region. 'The region is facing some difficult circumstances. Governments can and must work with people, with civil society and business to build a stronger foundation for the future in order to bring about real growth and opportunity, both political and economic".
The Assistant Secretary recognised and commended Qatar for providing forums for dialogue and debates like the Doha Debates. He also hailed the role of media like Al Jazeera and Qatar Radio's call-in show 'Watani Al Habib'.
"We hope to continue to work continue to work together with Qatar in partnership on ways to ensure free and open expression in the media and online and a suitable atmosphere for the practice of professional journalism," he said and saluted students of journalism present in the audience saying "I admire your courage, I admire all the colleagues gone before you in this field."