2001 press releases

U.S. Statement to OSCE on Media Representative's Canceled Visit to Belarus (April 26, 2001)

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Unlike the previous speaker, we fully understand the reasons for Mr. Duve's decision not to visit Minsk at this time and fully support that decision. We deplore the Belarusian refusal to issue his Senior Advisor a visa and view this decision as additional evidence of the deteriorating situation regarding the media there and the authorities' unwillingness to cooperate with the OSCE.

Mr. Chairman, access to the media and the free flow of information are critical to Belarus's achieving certification of its elections as free and fair. Mr. Duve's visit offered Belarus an opportunity to confront problems and to take corrective action.

We welcome Mr. Duve's initiative to invite a group of independent Belarusian media representatives to a Public Workshop on Freedom of the Media in Vienna soon.

Thank you.