Media Freedom Representative established

The mandate of Representative on Freedom of the Media was established on 5 November 1997 by the OSCE Permanent Council, following the decision to create the post by the Lisbon Summit of Heads of State in December 1996.

The Permanent Council's decision noted that "freedom of expression is a fundamental and internationally recognized human right and a basic component of a democratic society and that free, independent and pluralistic media are essential to a free and open society and accountable systems of government."

The Representative on Freedom of the Media would, therefore, "observe relevant media developments in all participating States and will, on this basis, and in close co-ordination with the Chairman-in-Office, advocate and promote full compliance with OSCE principles and commitments regarding freedom of expression and free media," it added.

Twin pillars of responsibility and freedom

At the Sixth Meeting of the Ministerial Council in Copenhagen in December 1997, Freimut Duve of Germany became the first Representative on Freedom of the Media.

In his inaugural speech, Duve noted: "Freedom and responsibility - these are for me the two guiding concepts underlining this new office. Responsibility and freedom have always been the twin pillars of the Helsinki process, without which the Berlin Wall and the Iron Curtain might still be in existence."

Duve held the post of Representative on Freedom of the Media for two terms. In March 2004, the Hungarian writer, journalist, human rights advocate and university professor Miklos Haraszti of Hungary was appointed as his successor.