[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 100 (Thursday, July 27, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1388-E1389]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        FREE SPEECH AND MEDIA IN THE OSCE REGION AFTER 25 YEARS

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JOSEPH R. PITTS

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 27, 2000

  Mr. PITTS. Mr. Speaker, today freedom of the press and media in the 
OSCE participating States is deteriorating and regressing, largely 
unnoticed by the peoples of the region. This is happening in Western 
and Central Europe in much the same way one cooks a frog. Place the 
frog in cold water and start the fire. As the water heats up, the frog 
is gradually cooked--having never known he was in danger. This type of 
political gradualism is a true threat to the peoples and States of 
Europe.
  Recent hearings held by the Helsinki Commission, on which I serve, 
have noted a number of high profile cases in Eastern Europe showcasing 
the situation. We have heard of the rise of influence and pressure from 
heavy-handed government authorities who feel the need to control the 
views and reports of independent journalists. Such actions have been

[[Page E1389]]

especially evident in Bosnia, Azerbaijan, and Ukraine. The recent 
arrest of Vladimir Gusinsky, head of Media Most and an outspoken critic 
of Russian President Putin, has raised our concern about Russia's 
approach to an agenda of free media.
  A key OSCE commitment allows for the development and protection of 
freedom of expression, permitting independent pluralistic media. Three 
years ago, the OSCE States were concerned enough about the problems in 
this area that they mandated the creation of the position of 
Representative on Freedom of the Media. The 25th Anniversary of the 
Helsinki Final Act marks an appropriate occasion to review the past 
relations between the OSCE governments and the media, and to review the 
current situation of free media in the region.
  Last year, 11 journalists were killed in the region, with a number of 
the deaths accompanied by suspicious circumstances. In addition to 
those killed while reporting the news, many others were arrested under 
suspicious circumstances and without due process. Radio Free Europe/
Radio Liberty reporter Andrei Babitsky's story is a frightening example 
of just how badly the situation for reporters has deteriorated in 
Russia. While covering and reporting on the war in Chechnya, Babitsky 
was arrested by Russian troops for ``participating in an armed 
formation,'' and yet later was traded to Chechen rebels in an exchange, 
thus being placed in grave danger. Babitsky was later retrieved by 
Russian forces and subsequently charged with using false papers.
  While Babitsky was fortunate to have survived and received 
international exposure, most other journalists are not so lucky in 
Russia. In Vladimir Putin's first ``state of the union'' speech, he 
said that he supported a free Russian press, but was angered that media 
owners could influence the content. That is, while Putin openly 
declares support for a free media, he chills the media in his next 
utterance. Likewise, Gusinsky's arrest has heightened our concern as we 
see the tightening of the noose on the throat of a free press in 
Russia.
  Actions by governments in Southeastern Europe are also a cause for 
concern. Turkey and the Balkan States present serious impediments 
towards promoting and allowing free media. Serbia continually 
threatens, harasses, and fines all media that do not follow the 
official line. Milosevic has seen to the gradual demise of any 
independent Serbian media, not the least through fines totaling $2.1 
million last year. Turkish authorities continue to block free media in 
key areas, with either the Kurdish issue or criticism of the military 
most likely to land journalists in jail.
  Mr. Speaker, I could continue. Such developments are rife throughout 
the Caucasus and Central Asia. It is not enough for OSCE States to 
ardently promote the idea of free speech and media. Collective 
accountability must be used, along with public diplomacy, if the OSCE 
is to consist of States that rise to the standard envisioned at 
Helsinki 25 years ago regarding free speech and media.

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