BRAMA, Mar 18, 2004, 1:00 pm ET
Press Release
Brussels, 18 March 2004 7186/04 (Presse 74)
Declaration by the Presidency on behalf of the European Union on media freedom and democratic standards in Ukraine
The European Union has noted with great dismay several recent events which have sent a negative signal in relation to democratic standards in the run-up to Presidential elections in Ukraine on 31 st October.
The EU regrets that several events or measures have affected the independent media at a time when, in the run-up to the elections in October, information from a variety of sources and media independence and diversity have never been more important to the Ukrainian people as they make their democratic choice. Any reduction in the space of the independent media, regardless of the grounds given in justification of specific instances, damages Ukraine's international credibility and its engagement to ensure free and fair elections.
Recent events include the decision by Dovira radio to cancel its contract with Radio Liberty; problems encountered by the 5th Channel with respect to its licence; and the closure of Radio Kontinent on 3rd March.
The Union has also noted with concern the credible reports of a significant increase in administrative harassment by the State Tax Administration (STA) in a selective way against independent journalists and against companies which belong or are presumed to belong to opposition supporters. The selective way in which fiscal inquiries and investigations have been conducted raises the question of their underlying motivation.
Freedom of the media and impartiality of state administration are essential requirements for free and fair elections. A strong EU-Ukraine relationship depends on concrete actions by the Administration to up-hold and promote European values and standards, to which free and fair elections are central. Rule of law, independence of justice, freedom of the media and the protection of journalists are benchmarks of the Administration's good faith in this regard.
Furthermore, the Union notes with dismay reports by a number of observers that the by-election held in constituency no. 61 (Donetsk region) on 7th March was marred by irregularities committed both during the electoral campaign and on polling day. The EU considers that this represents a further unfortunate signal prior to the Presidential elections in October and calls on the Ukrainian authorities to take the necessary measures to ensure that the Presidential election will be carried out in a fully democratic manner.
The Acceding Countries Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, the Slovak Republic and Slovenia, the Candidate Countries Bulgaria and Romania, the Countries of the Stabilisation and Association Process and potential candidates Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Serbia and Montenegro, and the EFTA countries Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway, members of the European Economic Area, align themselves with this declaration.
Internet: hng://ue.eu.int/ E-mail: oress.officeCa consilium.eu int
7186/04 (Presse 74)
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