The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine
will continue to focus on the adoption of laws to regulate the information
environment. Volodymyr Lytvyn,
Chairman of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, made this statement, meeting OSCE Representative for Media Dunja
Mijatovic.
In the beginning of the meeting, Dunja Mijatovic characterized the declaration of Viktor Yanukovych, President of Ukraine, regarding support of media freedom as ‘a good signal´. She called for taking action to reach this goal.
D.Mijatovic highly appreciated the efforts of Ukraine to implement democratic reforms, admitting, however, that the situation with mass media is not imperfect. Moreover, several bills adjusted for parliamentary scrutiny were said to give rise to concern. She stated that the office she headed was ready to give an expert review of these legislative acts. "My duty is not to criticize, but to provide comprehensive assistance to the OSCE member states," D.Mijatovic declared.
V.Lytvyn stated that activity of mass media in Ukraine and freedom of speech are ‘sensitive issues.´ He deems necessary to study the situation in the environmental environment thoroughly.
The Head of the Parliament presented statistical data, according to which, 1672 television and radio broadcasting organizations, 27 of which are state-owned, had been registered in Ukraine. According to the Book Chamber, the number of newspapers and magazines reached 2296, including 700 municipal periodicals subject to privatization. "Thus, almost 100% of mass media are in private ownership. Neither by organizational or financial means can the State monitor, censor or even regulate their activity," he stated. "The role of the state as a regulator on the mass media market has been minimized, while the total significance of mass media prevails over the importance of the state in public relations." "It was not a rare case that mass media were founded or purchased as the tools of attack or defence to protect the private or corporate interests of their owners," the Head of the Parliament stated. "It implies another conclusion: Ukrainian mass media has not become the tools and the elements of a civic society yet."
V.Lytvyn deems necessary to reach a
consensus on the political and legislative levels as to the unbiased
distribution of relations between the state and mass media. The judicial system
and the institutes of civic society can act as mediators in this situation.
V.Lytvyn believes that legislative resolutions in the mass media environment require a systematic approach, minute analysis and lasting discussions. Monopolization of the information environment should be prevented. Commenting upon the privatization of the municipal printed media, the Head of the Parliament stated that "teams of journalists should be granted priority."
Presently, the Parliament will scrutinize the bill on access to the public information in the second reading. V.Lytvyn suggested that the office of the OSCE Representative for Media forwarded its conclusions and recommendations concerning this bill.
As to the bill on public service television, V.Lytvyn deems necessary to reach a consensus on the essential matters financial support and management. The issue on expenditures for public service television should be fixed in the Law and in the State Budget. The Head of the Parliament supposes that managers of this channel should be appointed by the board of trustees including representatives of the civic society and braches of power.
The Chairman of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine claimed that the Parliament would impartially scrutinize other legislative acts on mass media, esp. on the regulation of cyberspace, considering the international experience. Among the areas of the parliamentary activity, V.Lytvyn singled out harmonization of the national legislation on mass media with the European standards. He guaranteed assistance of The Verkhovna Rada to the Committee on the Freedom of Speech and Information chaired by the opposition member.
V.Lytvyn calls for raising the issue concerning ‘the freedom of offence and defamation´ in mass media, particularly, ‘to different political orders.´
"I see no reasons for claiming the rollback of democracy," V.Lytvyn summed up. "I believe that the authorities understood the importance of dialogue with the mass media on the principles of lawfulness, responsibility and benevolence. I also believe that there will be no division into ‘friends´ and ‘foes´, when the ‘foes´ can be dragged through the mire, while the ‘friends´ can be looked upon as an icon."
He supposes that every official "should hang the following slogan in their office: take care of the freedom of speech while you are in power, because it will be late when you join the opposition."