The views, opinions, conclusions and other information expressed in this document are not given nor necessarily endorsed by the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) unless the OSCE is explicitly defined as the Author of this document.
The FINANCIAL — VIENNA, 8 July 2011 – The Internet should remain free and access should be considered a human right, said the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Dunja Mijatović at the presentation of a report on regulations affecting new media in the OSCE region today.
The study, commissioned by the office of the Representative and authored by Yaman Akdeniz, a professor at Istanbul Bilgi University, measures the level of Internet content regulation in the OSCE area and assesses national laws in light of OSCE commitments and international standards of free expression and access to information.
The Study on legal provisions and practices related to freedom of expression, the free flow of information and media pluralism on the Internet is the first ever OSCE-wide review of laws regulating the Internet. Mijatović said the rapid development of Internet technologies and growth in user numbers were factors that inspired the report, which offers recommendations on how to keep the Internet open.
“We will use the study as an advocacy tool to promote speech-friendly Internet regulation in the OSCE participating States,” Mijatović said.
“Some governments already recognize access to the Internet as a human right. This trend should be supported as a crucial element of media freedom in the 21st century.”
The study found that some participating States had problems submitting information for the study because legal provisions or relevant statistics were not easily retrievable. It also emphasizes that this lack of clarity makes it difficult for users to understand Internet regulation regimes.
Akdeniz expressed concern about the level of blocking practices encountered in the OSCE region. “Restrictions to freedom of expression must comply with international norms. No compliance could lead to censorship,” he said.
The Representative highlighted other key trends revealed in the survey.
“Legislation in many countries does not recognize that freedom of expression and freedom of the media equally apply to Internet as a modern means of exercising these rights and in some of our states, ‘extremism’, terrorist propaganda, harmful content and hate speech are vaguely defined and may be widely interpreted to ban speech types that Internet users may not deem illegal,” Mijatović said.
The study argues that filtering and blocking measures are in most cases incompatible with freedom of expression and the free flow of information, both of which are basic OSCE commitments.
It is also a concern that several countries allow for complete suspension of Internet services at times of war, in a state of emergency and in response to other security threats, added Mijatović.
via The FINANCIAL – Internet blocking practices a concern, access is a human right, says OSCE.
FULYA ÖZERKAN
ANKARA – Hürriyet Daily News
As fears run high over Vienna’s retaliation after Ankara’s veto of candidacy of a former Austrian foreign minister to be the secretary-general of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, or OSCE, it has been learned that Austria is one of the countries blocking Turkey’s visa agreement with the European Union.
“What more can Austria do to complicate Turkey’s EU accession? It is already one of the countries standing in the way of any agreement between Turkey and the EU for visa-free travel,” a source told the Hürriyet Daily News on Tuesday.
Turkey vetoed Austria’s Ursula Plassnik to be OSCE secretary-general citing concerns over her public statements about European identity. The Turkish Foreign Ministry, however, denied any link between its opposition to the Austrian candidate and this action’s negative repercussions on Ankara’s EU negotiations.
“That would demonstrate through which dimension Austria is looking at Turkish-EU relations. Interlinking the two issues is tantamount to comparing apples and oranges,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Selçuk Ünal told the Daily News.
Ünal also dismissed speculation that Ankara and Vienna had reached an accord not to veto each other’s candidates.
“We have opposed the Austrian candidate since the very beginning because of her public statements not reflecting a pan-European vision. Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu verbally made this clear both to his Austrian counterpart during telephone conversations and to the Lithuanian term presidency of the OSCE,” he said.
“Plus, we were not the only country opposing Austria’s candidate,” said Ünal.
It has been learned that the Russians were also against Plassnik and reluctant to see another European as secretary-general of OSCE. Previous secretary-generals of the organization have been from EU member states Germany, Italy, Slovakia and France.
Turkey warned against pushing for Austrian candidate
Turkey warned the Lithuanian presidency not to push for the Austrian candidate, otherwise it would use its right to veto, it has been revealed.
Turkey’s veto of the Austrian candidate also came after the Lithuanian term presidency’s move to send letters to the representatives of OSCE member states in Vienna saying Plassnik would become secretary-general, a development that angered Ankara.
In return, Turkey, which previously made its position clear verbally in compliance with diplomatic courtesy, dispatched a written note objecting to Plassnik on the argument that two other countries, Greek Cyprus and Armenia, used the same route to oppose the Turkish candidate.
“We have never articulated the word veto. But the first written veto came from Armenia and Greek Cyprus against our candidate. And it appeared we could use the same method,” said Ünal.
“We first refrained from using this method out of diplomatic courtesy, but we clearly told Austria and Lithuania that we would not hesitate to do so if they insist on the Austrian candidate,” he said.
Turkey nominated Ersin Erçin, the country’s ambassador to Brazil and the president’s adviser for European security, for the same position. Italy and Portugal also nominated candidates. Decisions at OSCE are made through consensus.
President did not make any promise, says Ankara
Some news reports, meanwhile, claimed President Abdullah Gül promised Austrian Foreign Minister Michael Spindelegger not to oppose the Austrian candidate during a reception given on May 2, before a dinner hosted by Austrian President Heinz Fischer. Ünal told the Daily News that the Turkish president has not made such a promise and instead emphasized the strong support for the Turkish candidate.
via Austria blocking visa deal between Turkey, EU – Hurriyet Daily News and Economic Review.
ANKARA – Hürriyet Daily News
Turkey vetoes ex-Austrian foreign minister’s OSCE candidacy
Ankara has vetoed the candidacy of a former Austrian foreign minister to be the secretary-general of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, or OSCE, citing concerns about his stance on Turkey.
“We have notified not only Austria but also Lithuania [the rotating president of the OSCE] that it is impossible for us to accept a person who discusses our European identity as the secretary-general of such an important international organization,” Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu said in a TV interview Saturday.
Lithuania had sent letters to representatives of 55 OSCE members in Vienna, saying former Austrian Foreign Minister Ursula Plassnik had been nominated as secretary-general. Turkey had nominated Ersin Erçin, the country’s ambassador to Brazil and the president’s adviser for European security, for the same position. Italy and Portugal also nominated candidates.
Turkey’s move was not a veto of Austria, Davutoğlu said, adding that Austria had nominated a candidate who does not support an inclusive European identity. Plassnik said in 2008 that Turkey, a predominantly Muslim country, should consider a relationship with the European Union short of full membership.
As Turkey has vetoed Plassnik, 56 member states will seek consensus on Turkey’s candidate, Italy’s Lamberto Zannier or Portugal’s Joao Soares.
Davutoğlu said Turkey’s candidate received significant support at first, but the Greek Cypriot administration and Armenia said they would veto his candidacy. “Then, Erçin was ranked second in the voting,” the minister said.
Lithuania has to nominate Plassnik or another candidate by Monday and ask for the consent of member countries. The OSCE makes all its decisions through consensus.
The OSCE is the world’s largest regional security organization, including 56 states from Europe. It offers a forum for political negotiations and decision-making in the fields of early warning, conflict prevention, crisis management and post-conflict rehabilitation, and puts the political will of its participating states into practice through its unique network of field missions.
via Turkey vetoes ex-Austrian foreign minister’s OSCE candidacy – Hurriyet Daily News and Economic Review.
Turkey opposes Austria’s former foreign minister to become new OSCE chief
By: The Associated Press
ANKARA, Turkey – Turkey says it opposes the candidacy of Austria’s former foreign minister to become the next secretary general of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe.
Turkey’s foreign ministry said Saturday it can’t support Ursula Plassnik because she opposes Turkey’s bid to become a full member of the European Union.
Plassnik said in 2008 that Turkey, a predominantly Muslim country, should consider a tie-up with the EU short of full membership.
Turkey’s Ersin Ercin, Italy’s Lamberto Zannier and Portugal’s Joao Soares are the remaining candidates.
via Turkey opposes Austria’s former foreign minister to become new OSCE chief – Winnipeg Free Press.
VIENNA, Austria — A new law on media and internet censorship that is to be enforced in Turkey soon could limit media freedom and access to information, the OSCE said on Tuesday (May 17th). In a letter to Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu, OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Dunja Mijatovic expressed concern about a recent ruling by the Constitutional Court, allowing prosecutors to file criminal cases against journalists years after material was published. Previously, this term was two months for journalists in daily papers and four months for those in other printed media. The OSCE warned that if these provisions remain, journalists who express critical views will work in constant fear.
Mijatovic also expressed concern about government plans to introduce mandatory content filtering for all internet users in August. “Internet users must have the freedom to make an independent decision about using content filters. If enforced, this regulation would contravene OSCE and international standards on the free flow of information,” she added. (OSCE website, Hurriyet, Aksam – 17/05/11)
via OSCE concerned about internet filters, media restrictions in Turkey (SETimes.com).
