Representative on Freedom of the Media cancels visit to Belarus
VIENNA, 24 April 2001 - Freimut Duve, the OSCE Representative on Freedom of Media, has decided not to visit Belarus as scheduled 25 April 2001. He cannot accept a severe interference in the independence of his OSCE institution by a participating State.
Mr. Duve regrets that the Government of Belarus, while officially welcoming the visit, has denied a visa to his senior advisor, who was to accompany him. The visit had been scheduled for several months by the OSCE Advisory and Monitoring Group (AMG) in Belarus. The plan was to meet with a wide range of independent and state journalists, media NGOs and Belarusian government officials.
Especially in light of the upcoming presidential elections, Freimut Duve is very concerned about the media situation in Belarus and considers a visit by him to obtain first-hand knowledge to be of utmost importance.
However, Mr. Duve firmly believes that no participating State should dictate for or against any of the staff members of an OSCE institution. To accept such an interference would set a precedent which would weaken the working conditions of OSCE institutions.
Mr Duve therefore decided, after consultations with the AMG, to invite in the near future a group of independent Belarusian media representatives to a Vienna Public Workshop on Freedom of Media for an exchange of views with the participating States and European journalists.
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 21 45 - 9, e-mail: pm-fom@osce.org