OSCE media freedom representative says optimistic about re-opening of suspended Imedi TV after visit to Georgia

TBILISI, 23 November, 2007 - The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Miklos Haraszti, said today he gained assurances from Georgian President Saakashvili that media pluralism in the country will be restored by early December, the start of the presidential election campaign.

"The fairness of elections would be severely damaged if one of the major news outlets remained closed," said Haraszti, who is in Tbilisi on a two-day visit together with the EU Special Representative for South Caucasus, Peter Semneby.

"Restriction of pluralism would be unjustifiable in the eyes of the international community. I feel I was able to convey this message. Georgia has enjoyed media pluralism in the last decade. To my satisfaction, our request for the restoration of media diversity, which is also a major OSCE commitment, was met with willingness on the Government side," added Haraszti.

Haraszti, Semneby and the Head of the OSCE Mission to Georgia, Ambassador Terhi Hakala, were received by President Mikheil Saakashvili. They also met Speaker of Parliament Nino Burjanadze, Foreign Minister Gela Bezhuashvili, Interior Minister Vano Merabishvili, parliamentarians Giga Bokeria, Koba Davitashvili and Kakha Kukava and other politicians.

Meetings were also held with the managers and editors of the suspended Imedi TV and other news outlets, as well as the Head of the Communications Commission, Giorgi Arveladze.

"One lesson of the November events is that understanding of the role media plays in times of crisis must not be the sole responsibility of the government," said Haraszti. "Full freedom of opinion can and must go together with professional responsibility. Stressing democracy's shared values at all times is the job for both the politicians and the media. Here I mean all the media in Georgia and not just Imedi."