**Updates IFEX alert of 23 June 2000** (ARTICLE 19/IFEX) – The following is an ARTICLE 19 press release: UN SETTING ‘DANGEROUS PRECEDENT’ WITH KOSOVO MEDIA REGULATION 30 June 2000 – for immediate release ARTICLE 19 today strongly condemned the UN’s Temporary Press Regulation in Kosovo (1) which has already been used to threaten a local […]
**Updates IFEX alert of 23 June 2000**
(ARTICLE 19/IFEX) – The following is an ARTICLE 19 press release:
UN SETTING ‘DANGEROUS PRECEDENT’ WITH KOSOVO MEDIA REGULATION
30 June 2000 – for immediate release
ARTICLE 19 today strongly condemned the UN’s Temporary Press Regulation in Kosovo (1) which has already been used to threaten a local newspaper with penalties which could include a fine of up to 100,000DM, suspension or closedown of operations. The regulation also allows the introduction of legally binding codes of conduct for the press. The draft code seen by ARTICLE 19 includes a number of over-broad provisions and undermines the universally accepted right of the press to self-regulation.
Fiona Harrison, Head of ARTICLE 19’s Europe Programme said: “The regulation is completely unacceptable, since it was drawn up and will be enforced by the same body. This contravenes international law, since it fails to provide for alleged violations to be adjudicated by a body
independent of the ruling authorities.(2) It sets a dangerous precedent and is a gift to any government seeking for examples to use when reining in the media.
“ARTICLE 19 recognises that the media’s role should be to foster a culture of tolerance, rather than engage in unprofessional journalism which may directly incite violence. However, we dispute the wisdom of introducing such a wide-reaching measure to deal with a small number of specific cases of actual incitement to violence,” she added.
ARTICLE 19 is concerned that actions taken by the UN Mission in Kosovo should provide a foundation for the future which can be built upon after the withdrawal of the international community. The organisation has called upon the UN to support initiatives for sustainable development of higher journalistic standards and a long-term functioning judiciary. In the meantime, ARTICLE 19 has written asking the head of the UN Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo:,br>
– not to introduce the Codes of Conduct into law;
– to ensure that measures provide some kind of an independent court system to adjudicate abuses;
– only to introduce measures which conform to international law and international standards on freedom of expression.
Notes for Editors:
1. UNMIK Regulations No. 2000/37 “On the Conduct of the Print Media in Kosovo” was introduced on 17 June 2000.
2. The Regulation does provide for an appeals process, set out in Regulation No. 2000/36 “On the Licensing and Regulation of the Broadcast Media in Kosovo”. ARTICLE 19 views the appointments system for the Media Appeals Board as insufficiently independent.
