Representative on Freedom of the Media

VIENNA, 29 February 2008 - OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media (RFOM), Miklos Haraszti, and Secretary of State of the Finnish Foreign Ministry, Pertti Torstila, called on participating States to comply with their OSCE media commitments at a roundtable discussion that started today in Vienna.

The one-day event on the future challenges to freedom of the media and freedom of expression in the OSCE area marks the tenth anniversary of the RFOM Office. The forum is supported by the Finnish OSCE Chairmanship.

"The Finnish OSCE Chairmanship gives its full support to the activities of the Media Representative Mr. Miklos Haraszti and his Office in providing early warning on violations on freedom of expression and in assisting participating States from Vancouver to Vladivostok to fulfil their commitments," said Secretary of State Pertti Torstila.

Haraszti said: "The 56 OSCE nations committed themselves to the highest standards of human rights, freedom of expression included. Today, we sometimes have to defend not only press freedom standards but also the very notion of international co-operation on human rights. Still, the journalists can count on the dedication of my office to keep the OSCE media freedom commitments alive and to advocate for compliance."

Haraszti also honoured Freimut Duve, the first OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, for his work.

Noted journalists and media freedom experts are taking part in today's discussion. Plantu, the editorial cartoonist of French daily newspaper Le Monde, will also present a cartoon show and discuss the role and responsibility of cartoonists in societies.

For additional information, including the programme of the event, please visit: http://www.osce.org/item/29850.html