Dunja Mijatovic: I will fight for Belarusian journalists
Conference on journalist security started on 23 April in Warsaw.
At the opening of the conference the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Dunja Mijatovic met the editor in chief of the charter97.org web-site Natalla Radzina and commented on the situation with the freedom of speech in Belarus. Answering to the question of what OSCE mechanisms of influence on the catastrophic situation with independent media in the country may be applied, Mijatovic said:
- Our role, as well as the role of other international institutions and organizations, is not in changing the political system in your or any other country. It is in making the government follow the obligations it has taken. Belarus remains on our agenda. I follow all the attempts to undermine the freedom of expression. I work with Belarusian journalists – the ones, who are in the country, and the ones, who live abroad alike. I will attempt to visit Belarus soon. I hope it will happen soon.
In order for us to continue our work, the participation of the society in this process is needed. I cannot order Lukashenka or any other head of state, but I can dispute their actions, which do not correspond to the obligations, which they agreed to fulfill. I will keep doing this with no hesitation for journalists in Belarus and other countries not to be limited in their work.
It is not an easy task, it is a struggle, the result of which may be seen far from today, but the only way that I see is to pursue the open doors policy.
The conference on journalists' security is organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Poland, the embassies of Austria and Switzerland in Warsaw and the Polish Institute of Foreign Affairs.
