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5 November 1993
Doc. 6970
REPLY
from the Committee of Ministers
to Written Question No. 354
by Mrs FISCHER
on the situation of the media in former Yugoslavia
I. Question (30 September 1993, Doc. 6947)
Mrs Fischer,
Considering that;
1. The media operating on the territory of former Yugoslavia share responsibility for the origin and development of the conflicts raging there, and will also have a central role in any solution to those same conflicts. The chances of lasting peace in the region require the existence, among other things, of the free circulation of information and of independent media;
2. The Ministers' Deputies have already adopted a package of priority measures for independent media in former Yugoslavia including in particular support for the Co-ordination Centre for Independent Media in Ljubljana as well as training activities for media professionals;
3. The news concerning the situation of the media in former Yugoslavia is becoming increasingly alarming. The violation of the rights of journalists, infringements of the principle of independence of the media and the shortage of material has led to a situation that can be described as disastrous: disturbing information has come out of Kosovo concerning the repression of the media using the Albanian language; the question of the pluralism of the press remains a cause for concern in Croatia; problems have also been highlighted in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia; and in Bosnia-Herzegovina a handful of journalists risk their lives in an attempt to continue to circulate information,
To ask the Committee of Ministers,
whether, confronted with this tragic situation, it is in a position to consider providing rapid and effective support to independent media in the former Yugoslavia, in particular:
i. by taking a very firm stance against violations of freedom of expression and infringements of the principle of the independence of journalists in former Yugoslavia;
ii. by stepping up its co-operation and assistance activities in the field of the media concerning specifically former Yugoslavia, to ensure that greater support is given to independent journalists in former Yugoslavia;
iii. by developing, in addition to these activities and as a complement thereto, operational means to offer the most effective help to independent media in former Yugoslavia, taking account of the various actions already undertaken on the spot, in particular by non-governmental international organisations active in this sector.
II. Reply from the Committee of Ministers (29 October 1993)
The Committee of Ministers is fully aware of the fundamental importance of the media where the situation in countries of former Yugoslavia is concerned. It takes a very firm stance against violations of freedom of expression and infringements of the principle of the independence of journalists in countries of former Yugoslavia, as well as against repression of media of national minorities.
This is why it has already committed itself to developing specific activities in this field. These activities themselves stem from the conclusions of an informal meeting on the co-ordination of activities relating to the media in countries of former Yugoslavia, held in Strasbourg on 18 March 1993 at the invitation of the Secretary General.
A package of measures was thus adopted by the Committee of Ministers following the meeting, in order to offer support for the survival and existence of the independent media in countries of former Yugoslavia. This package indeed has two components: Council of Europe support for the Co-ordinating Centre for Independent Media, in Ljubljana, and initiatives relating to training for media professionals. Some existing funds were allotted to these activities to enable them to go ahead speedily, but the package of measures as a whole is largely implemented through voluntary contributions by governments.
However, the support for independent media in countries of former Yugoslavia is certainly an important element in the efforts of the Council of Europe to contribute to the peace process in this bruised part of Europe. In this context, the Committee of Ministers expresses its political and moral support to those who are engaged in the defence of this independence and in the distribution of objective and impartial information coming from a plurality of sources in a spirit favourable to the search for a lasting solution to the conflict.
The Committee of Ministers is aware of the importance of undertaking support efforts in co-operation with NGOs active on the ground. It recalls in this context the numerous actions of assistance and support as well as the declarations adopted by the International Federation of Journalists (FIJ), the International Federation of Newspaper Publishers (FIEJ), the European Federation of Community Radio (FERL), "Reporters Sans Frontières" (RSF), and the Declaration on public broadcasting adopted recently by the International Press Institute (IPI), on the occasion of the European Media Symposium held in Vienna on 22-24 September 1993.
Where operational resources to help the independent media on the ground are concerned, the Committee of Ministers will examine this question, in conjunction with the Secretary General.