OSCE media freedom representative refutes allegations by German media group WAZ

VIENNA, 21 September 2004 - The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Miklos Haraszti, refuted allegations by Germany's WAZ media group that he had taken any position in the dispute between WAZ and the journalists from the Romanian newspaper Romania Libera. This allegation was made in a press release issued by the German company.

"Last week I was asked by a WAZ representative to consider mediating. I said 'no' straight away," said Haraszti. "I cannot even consider such a request when it only comes from one side, since the journalists from this newspaper have not approached me."

"I have never agreed to mediate between WAZ and Romania Libera, since such mediation on behalf of a private media owner is not in my mandate," he added.

Haraszti also pointed out that: "WAZ is in the business of fiction when they allege that I had actually looked into the case and had excluded any press freedom violations."