World Press Freedom Day Statement

Issued by the U.S. Embassy
May 3, 2007

Freedom of the press is essential to a strong civil society and a healthy democracy. A free press informs and educates the public, provides a check on power and the abuse of power, and gives votes to the persecuted. 

Citizens must have the ability to express themselves, to debate alternative ideas and to challenge assumptions. A media that is independent from the state allows the peaceful expression and competition of ideas, on which democracy depends. 

On World Press Freedom Day, we recognize the important contributions of a free press and honor the sacrifices of those who have risked their lives and their fortunes for the sake of a free press.

Every day, brave men and women around the world risk harassment, beatings, detention, imprisonment and even death for exposing the truth. The instruments of repression include libel laws, government control of the media, self-censorship, restriction of the Internet, and sharp declines in numbers of independent press outlets.

In his second inaugural address, President Bush said that “the policy of the United States is to seek and support the growth of democratic movements and institutions in every nation and culture.” He asserted that while “we had no intention of imposing our own style of democracy on other nations, we do seek to help others find their voice, attain their own freedom, and make their own way.” Without a free and vibrant press a nation cannot find its voice and become a flourishing democracy.

We vigorously promote media freedom as a core component of our diplomacy and our assistance programs because a free press is essential to democracy. We do this by calling attention to efforts to restrict freedom of the press, by supporting the rights of independent producers and broadcasters, and through training for journalists, editors and media managers.

We also support professional exchanges and civic education programs that strengthen an independent media. For those who have difficulties gaining access to free information, we provide material assistance for the production of radio and television programs.

Expanding Internet freedom is a crucial part of our strategy, and we have created a Global Internet Freedom Task Force to address the crackdown on free expression on the Internet in many closed countries. 

Here in Belarus, journalists critical of the regime have been jailed or have simply disappeared. The few remaining independent newspapers are harassed on a regular basis.  After last year’s presidential elections, the OSCE reported that the regime seized newspaper print runs reporting on the campaign and completely dominated state-run television broadcasts. We are working with the EU to break the regime’s suppression of information by supporting the remaining independent media inside the country and the development of external broadcasting into Belarus.

During his visit to Belarus last week, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State David Kramer stated that the government of Belarus has the option to take positive steps, including support for media freedoms in Belarus and the release of all political prisoners, for our bilateral relations to improve. That has never been more true. The current regime should cease all harassment of independent media outlets, open the nationwide distribution system to them and eliminate unfounded legal charges against their editors and employees. 

All of this, however, will come only after the regime makes a fundamental shift in its policy, and embraces the belief that a free and open press will strengthen the country by making its leaders and their actions accountable to the Belarusian people.