Yushchenko to set up media forum (06/11/06)

Yushchenko to set up media forum

Official Website of the President of Ukraine

KYIV - At a Journalists Day press conference, on June 6, President Viktor Yushchenko said he wants to establish an international media forum. It would be held annually on November 22, Freedom Day, to discuss Ukraine's role in the international media market.

Speaking about media priorities of his government, Mr. Yushchenko said, "Our government believes the essence of our activity is modern and 'capacious' information policies and freedom of the press."

He then outlined a program to resolve the most pressing problems in that area. Mr. Yushchenko said it is important to pass several laws to make journalists truly independent and ensure better protection of their rights. He also insisted it is vital to introduce so-called editorial statutes.

The president said the current situation still is unacceptable. "I think all journalists can agree with me," he added. "I believe journalists should more actively demand that media owners should sign editorial statutes with them," he said.

Mr. Yushchenko characterized the media market in Ukraine as vulnerable.

"The State Television and Radio Committee (STRC) is particularly responsible for its failure to formulate information policies," he said. "We do not have public television. There are very few private media. These issues are still unsettled because there is no effective management center. Last year, we spoke about relevant programs [to develop the media market], as well as a national media concept, but nothing has been done yet," he admitted.

The president said the STRC functions "ineffectively and unsatisfactorily." He reminded his audience that he had earlier asked the Verkhovna Rada to dismiss STRC Chair Ivan Chyzh, and expressed his hope that the newly elected Parliament will vote for his dismissal and then politically evaluate the committee's performance.

Mr. Yushchenko promised to renew the Presidential Council for Information Policy and also to appoint new members of public councils at the National Television Company of Ukraine and the National Radio Company of Ukraine.

The president said public television must become "a tool of mass communication unaffected and uninfluenced by government." He also said it is important to develop digital television and Internet technologies in Ukraine.

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