OSCE Mission welcomes formation of Kosovo Press Council

PRISTINA, 10 August 2005 - The OSCE Mission in Kosovo welcomes today's signing of the Press Council statute by leading print media representatives as an important measure in ending regulation of Kosovo's print media by the Temporary Media Commissioner (TMC).

"The creation of the Press Council is a step forward in the normalization and Europeanization of media in Kosovo. Responsibility for self-regulation will be solely with the local media," said Cees van Zweeden, Senior Media Advisor for the OSCE Mission.

"This will greatly benefit both Kosovo's media and its people. Whenever media try to raise their professionalism and responsiveness to the public, this raises the level of trust in the media."

Earlier this year, editors signed a Press Code, voluntarily agreeing to comply with a set of rules on journalistic standards.

The multi-ethnic Press Council, the self-regulatory system for print media, is a prioritized goal in the Kosovo Standards Implementation Plan.

The signing of the Press Council statute also satisfies an important condition in the temporary print code of conduct. The TMC will recommend to the UN Special Representative that his regulatory authority over print media should not be renewed. Any new complaints will be referred to the Press Council.

The OSCE will continue to offer its support to the development of the Press Council in the interest of self-regulation and professionalization of print media.