OSCE media freedom representative reiterates his support for dialogue between Russian and Ukrainian Unions of Journalists during meeting in Vienna

VIENNA, 22 February 2018 – Representatives of Russian and Ukrainian journalists’ unions today met under the auspices of the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Harlem Désir, for the 17th roundtable discussion aiming to facilitate dialogue between the media workers of the two countries.

Representatives of the National Union of the Journalists of Ukraine and the Russian Union of Journalists attended the meeting, along with representatives of the International Federation of Journalists, the European Federation of Journalists, the International Press Institute and Reporters Without Borders.

Désir called on the roundtable participants to play an active role in evaluating the state of journalism in their countries, to address difficult and sometimes controversial subjects in their professional environment, and to promote and advocate for quality information and ethical journalism.

“Quality journalism, based on widely-recognized professional standards and principles, as for example reflected in the International Federation of Journalists’ Declaration of Principles on the Conduct of Journalists, fosters editorial freedom, independence of media and pluralism. It goes hand-in-hand with media self-regulation and ethical journalism,” Désir said. “The current challenges to media freedom in the OSCE region, primarily those stemming from the crisis in and around Ukraine, clearly show the importance of quality journalism to counter violent political rhetoric, disinformation, incitement to hatred and propaganda for war.”

The keynote speaker, Dainius Radzevičius, Chairman of the Lithuanian Journalists Union, opened today’s roundtable, focusing on quality journalism as the basis for building and promoting trustworthy and credible media.

During the meeting both unions recommitted to continuing their dialogue and to deepening the discussion and exchange of views on such issues as the safety of journalists and access to information.

In the course of the discussions, both unions reiterated their call on the release of Stanislav Aseev, a contributor to the Ukrainian Service of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) and a well-known blogger, who was detained in June 2017 in Donetsk (see Joint Memorandum: www.osce.org/representative-on-freedom-of-media/373447) and condemned participation of journalists in military actions in the conflict zone (see Joint Memorandum: www.osce.org/representative-on-freedom-of-media/373450).

The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media observes media developments in all 57 OSCE participating States. He provides early warning on violations of freedom of expression and media freedom and promotes full compliance with OSCE media freedom commitments. Learn more at www.osce.org/fom, Twitter: @OSCE_RFoM and on www.facebook.com/osce.rfom.