Zhanna Litvina: I believe that OSCE experts have principal stance

Being a professional diplomat, Dunja Mijatovic, OSCE media freedom representative tries to do everything possible in order to improve the situation in Belarus.

Such opinion in the talk with the EuroBelarus Information Service shared Zhanna Litvina, chairperson of the Belarusan Association of Journalists (BAJ).

In the statement made due to the release of Iryna Khalip from political persecution Dunja Mijatovic reminded Belarusan authorities about their uttered willingness to activate dialog with OSCE Office on the issue of improving the situation with media freedom in Belarus.

The journalist of the EuroBelarus Information Service asked Zhanna Litvina how possible is such dialog:

- I have a feeling that we spend too much time waiting for changes, democratic reforms and adoption of democratic values. On the whole, I believe that the most important thing for Belarus today is to move the dialog on the situation with media to the public sphere.

We should discuss the problems of demonopolization, denationalization, reformation of TV and its transformation into the civil broadcasting. It is for these purposes that the expert potential of the OSCE media freedom representative Office should be used. We need to adjust legislation to the international norms, which OSCE has already been doing.

Still, we need preconditions for that. And, first of all, the dialog is possible if criminal persecution is stopped and criminal record is cleared. We are very happy for Iryna Khalip, as well as Siarhei Vazniak and Aliaksandr Fiaduta.

However, among the preconditions are the moratorium on using articles from the criminal code that are connected with defamation and introduction of application principle of journalists’ accreditation. Even if only these reforms are carried out, I believe that the basis for the dialog connected with the concept of creation media sphere in Belarus will be formed.

- What is the assessment given by the OSCE Office on media freedom concerning the willingness of Belarusan authorities for cooperation? Does OSCE understand the situation in Belarus well, or they are somewhat naïve?

- I really respect experts from the OSCE media freedom representative Office and Dunja Mijatovic personally. These people have realistic understanding of Belarusan situation and give momentary reaction to the events that happen in the country.

I think that Dunja Mijatovic is a diplomat who uses every possibility to reform and improve the situation in Belarus.

- The idea Belarusan authorities have about the volume of freedom, which local media should have, differs from the OSCE standards a lot. And this difference can be reduced in two ways: either Belarus reaches the OSCE standards, or OSCE admits the uniqueness of Belarus and lowers the qualification standard towards our country. How realistic are these scenarios?

- You know, the cost of aspirations towards serious reforms in our country should be really high; on the other hand, it is clear that for today control over media is necessary for holding the Office. There is a feeling that Belarusan authorities are not ready for fundamental changes. What we really need is demonopolization; and it is very difficult for the authorities to refuse the propaganda role of mass media. However, the movement towards democratization is inevitable, and the situation cannot be permanently preserved by using force.

What concerns the possible acceptance of today Belarus by OSCE Office, I wouldn’t like to consider such a scenario, as I do believe that OSCE, its experts and Dunja Mijatovic have principal stance.