OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media meets with Ambassador of Turkey

The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media (RFoM), Teresa Ribeiro, met today, 2 February 2021, with Ambassador Rauf Engin Soysal to discuss the current media freedom landscape and challenges in Turkey and the broader OSCE region.
Ribeiro encouraged the Turkish authorities to promote favourable working conditions for free and pluralistic media, both online and offline, to allow them to successfully perform their fundamental role in society. She underlined the importance of upholding the commitments outlined in the 2018 Ministerial Council Decision on the Safety of Journalists.
In their conversation, Ribeiro expressed her interest to follow up on a number of ongoing criminal cases against journalists and issues around independence of broadcast and online media in Turkey, as well as the recent legal changes introduced with a potential impact on access to and the free flow of information online. In this regard, the RFoM showed her appreciation to receive further information from the Turkish authorities.
Ambassador Soysal noted the recently announced reform package by the Turkish authorities, which, among other areas, envisages reforms for the media sector. Ribeiro expressed her interest in learning more about this initiative and offered her Office’s assistance in providing expert recommendations, in line with relevant international standards and OSCE commitments.
For the further development of a vibrant media landscape in Turkey and across the OSCE region, Ribeiro and Ambassador Soysal agreed that mutual trust and constructive dialogue and collaboration are of paramount importance.