Skopje media commended for restraint

VIENNA, 27 March 2001 - Freimut Duve, the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, welcomed the restraint and level of responsibility of the media in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia in reporting the current conflict.

Although the situation in the country continues to be tense, the media in the country showed commendable restraint in reporting and editorializing on the military developments around Tetovo, Freimut Duve said. Daily newspapers demonstrated very little bravado and underlined the need for a "speeded-up political process" to deal with the concerns of ethnic Albanians.

"In this region the media have often fuelled conflict and became an instrument of further conflict," underlined Freimut Duve, "That is why in the midst of a violent conflict the tone of dailies in Skopje is responsibly directed towards a peaceful future."

The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media urged the media in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia to continue to encourage further political dialogue among its citizens. He stressed that his Office would monitor the situation closely and report on further developments to OSCE participating States.

For more information, contact the Office of the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, tel.: +43-1-512 21 45-0, fax: 43-1-512 2145-9, e-mail: pm-fom@osce.org