Freedom of expression

The safety of journalists remains the main threat to media freedom in the OSCE region, OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Dunja Mijatovic has said.

Mijatovic made the remark on Monday during her visit to Sarajevo, Bosnia-Herzegovina, the organization said in a statement posted on its website.

OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Dunja Mijatovic has called on the government of Serbia to end impunity for crimes committed against journalists.

Do?an Holding Chairperson Begümhan Do?an Faralyal? has underlined the crucial link between social development and freedom of expression, noting that media outlets must always pursue the truth, in a speech at the Uluda? Economy Summit on March 26. 

The OSCE Ministerial Council has decided to extend the mandate of OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Dunja Mijatovic, for one year.

OSCE Chairperson-in-Office and German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier on Wednesday welcomed this decision, the organization said in a statement.

The OSCE has warned that "the independence of the broadcast regulator is a key element for media pluralism and freedom of the media."

"Freedom of expression and free media constitute two imperative tools in fostering a meaningful debate on security issues," says Dunja Mijatovic.

This is also necessary to "effectively address new security challenges," the OSCE representative on Freedom said delivering the Annual Harriman Lecture at Columbia University.

OSCE's representative on freedom of the media has urged the authorities in Bosnia-Herzegovina "to prevent financial collapse of public service broadcasters."

They should "immediately address the long-standing issue of funding for the country’s public broadcasting system," Dunja Mijatovic has said, according to an OSCE statement issued on Tuesday.

OSCE's Freedom of the Media representative has rejected the criticism of her office, voiced earlier on Friday by Aleksandar Vucic and Sergei Lavrov.

The destructive powers of propaganda and its root causes must be eliminated, OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Dunja Mijatovic has said.

The European Parliament has adopted a resolution calling on the EU states to end any persecution of whistleblower Edward Snowden.

The document also urges these countries to give him protection, Sputnik reported.