OSCE is worried about Moldovan authorities handling media

The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Miklos Haraszti, urged the Moldovan authorities Tuesday to secure free access for international media and allow unhindered reporting in the country, reads a communique by the OSCE, quoted by Info-Prim Neo. He also called on journalists to observe the professional rules of detachment when covering events such as the demonstrations that followed last week's parliamentary elections. "Whatever the circumstances, restrictions on media and free reporting infringe on several OSCE principles in the media sphere," Haraszti wrote in a letter sent to Moldovan Foreign Minister Andrei Stratan. In the letter, Haraszti listed the numerous complaints from foreign and Moldovan journalists about mishandling by border services and law enforcement forces, as well as complaints involving assault and brief detention, and restrictions on access to internet services, in particular to social networking websites. "In the 1975 Helsinki Final Act, the participating States pledged to improve the conditions under which journalists from one participating State exercise their profession in another participating State, and provide journalists with visas," Haraszti said. Haraszti drew the Minister's attention to his Office's recommendations on accrediting journalists and on handling the media during political demonstrations, stressing that journalists covering unauthorized or anti-governmental demonstrations should be supported by law enforcement. "Our recommendations also call on the media workers covering the events in Moldova to visibly indicate their professional status while on duty, report objectively without inflaming the situation and refrain from becoming personally involved," he said.