Newsroom
OSCE Mission welcomes new Press Code for Kosovo
PRISTINA 18 March 2005
PRISTINA, 18 March 2005 - The OSCE Mission in Kosovo welcomed today's signing of a Press Code for Kosovo by leading print media representatives as an important step in regulating the print media and the future establishment of a Press Council.
"The creation of a Press Code and Press Council will greatly benefit both Kosovo's media and its people," said Jens Modvig, Acting Head of the OSCE Mission in Kosovo. "Responsibility for self-regulation will be solely with the local media, as it is in many democratic European states. This Code will act as a set of rules which media agree to voluntarily comply with and abide by."
All of the media representatives agreed that both a code and council were necessary.
The Press Code is a prioritized goal in the Kosovo Standards Implementation Plan. It was drafted by local actors and is based on existing European models. It will ensure that the print media provide the public with timely and relevant information by observing international standards on truth, hate-speech and privacy.
The formation of a Press Council to oversee adherence to the code is the next step. Self-regulation will also lead to the end of the Temporary Media Commissioner's present authority to regulate print media.
The OSCE Mission hopes media in Kosovo that have not yet contributed to the creation of the current Press Code will soon join the continuing process and help improve the Press Code in the best interests of self-regulation.
"Free, progressive and responsible media will develop better operating under a Press Code," said Dardan Gashi, of the OSCE's Office of the Representative on Freedom of the Media.
The OSCE Kosovo Mission plans to facilitate further discussions on the Press Code and on the Press Council in the near future.
"The creation of a Press Code and Press Council will greatly benefit both Kosovo's media and its people," said Jens Modvig, Acting Head of the OSCE Mission in Kosovo. "Responsibility for self-regulation will be solely with the local media, as it is in many democratic European states. This Code will act as a set of rules which media agree to voluntarily comply with and abide by."
All of the media representatives agreed that both a code and council were necessary.
The Press Code is a prioritized goal in the Kosovo Standards Implementation Plan. It was drafted by local actors and is based on existing European models. It will ensure that the print media provide the public with timely and relevant information by observing international standards on truth, hate-speech and privacy.
The formation of a Press Council to oversee adherence to the code is the next step. Self-regulation will also lead to the end of the Temporary Media Commissioner's present authority to regulate print media.
The OSCE Mission hopes media in Kosovo that have not yet contributed to the creation of the current Press Code will soon join the continuing process and help improve the Press Code in the best interests of self-regulation.
"Free, progressive and responsible media will develop better operating under a Press Code," said Dardan Gashi, of the OSCE's Office of the Representative on Freedom of the Media.
The OSCE Kosovo Mission plans to facilitate further discussions on the Press Code and on the Press Council in the near future.