OSCE representative urges South Caucasus governments to champion media freedom and pluralism following OSCE conference, meetings in Georgia

VIENNA, 23 November 2009 - The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Miklos Haraszti, welcomed today increasing media independence in Georgia and backed calls for pluralistic licensing and media ownership transparency in the South Caucasus following a regional conference in Tbilisi.

The Sixth OSCE South Caucasus Media Conference, which was held in Tbilisi on 19 and 20 November, brought together journalists, authorities and education experts from Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia to discuss the challenges facing journalism and journalist education in the region.

"We are happy that our conference brought the OSCE back to Georgia, and I remain hopeful that our Organization's activities in Georgia will soon be fully restored based on Georgia's integrity and independence," said Haraszti, opening the conference.

The conference demanded the immediate release of imprisoned journalists in Azerbaijan. At the same time, it commended the intention of the Azerbaijani government to decriminalize defamation. The conference also urged all three countries of the region to enforce ownership transparency in the media, and to issue further television licenses in order to make the media fully pluralistic.

Regarding Georgia's media situation, Haraszti welcomed some positive developments encouraging media pluralism and independence.

"I note with satisfaction that two years after the criticized closure of Imedi TV in 2007, diversity in the television media is advancing in Georgia. I welcome the access granted to satellite for the oppositional channel Maestro TV and preparations to start a parliamentary and discussions channel in February 2010, as well as the growing number of invitations to all political forces to the talk shows on private channels," said Haraszti.

During his visit, Haraszti met Giorgi Bokeria, the First Deputy Foreign Minister of Georgia, and David Darchiashvili, the Chairman of the Committee on European integration of the Parliament of Georgia. He also met former Education Minister professor Ghia Nodia, and Georgian journalists from both print and broadcast media.

"I am also encouraged by the assurances of the authorities to restore the 'Georgian' method of financing the Public Service Broadcaster according to which it automatically receives 0.15 per cent of GDP. This is an exemplary way to guarantee the independence of the Public Service Broadcaster," he said.

The conference's declaration on press freedom and journalism education in the South Caucasus will be available in English and Russian at www.osce.org/fom.