UN EXPERT: FORMER YUGOSLAV REPUBLIC OF MACEDONIA MUST NOT SILENCE CRITICAL MEDIA

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: UNNews <UNNews@un.org>
Date: 21 Jun 2013 18:00:00 -0400
Subject: UN EXPERT: FORMER YUGOSLAV REPUBLIC OF MACEDONIA MUST NOT
SILENCE CRITICAL MEDIA
To: news11@ny-mail-p-lb-028.ptc.un.org

UN EXPERT: FORMER YUGOSLAV REPUBLIC OF MACEDONIA MUST NOT SILENCE
CRITICAL MEDIANew York, Jun 21 2013 6:00PMAn independent United
Nations expert today urged the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia
to allow space for critical media saying the closure of a television
station and some newspapers in 2011 sends worrying signals about free
expression in the country.

"I am deeply concerned by the use of multiple legal instruments
limiting the space for an independent media, silencing important
critical voices," said Frank La Rue, Special Rapporteur on the rights
to freedom of opinion and expression.

Back from a four-day visit to the country at the invitation of the
Government, Mr. La Rue said he is concerned about "diminishing space
for critical media" given the closure of A1 TV station and four
newspapers, and the detention of Tomislav Kezarovski, a journalist
from the Nova Makedonija daily detained for 30 days in relation to an
article he wrote in 2008.

The UN expert also noted that investigative journalists and media
groups are under pressure in their reporting.

"Civil defamation lawsuits continue to proliferate, putting a serious
burden on the functioning of some critical media groups who seem to be
recurrently targeted by these actions," Mr. La Rue said.

He commended the country for its recent decriminalization of
defamation and said he was "glad" to hear that the Government is fully
revising the first draft of the Law on Media and Audiovisual Services
presented last month.

"Such an important law must never be designed and adopted without
proper consultation with civil society, including in particular
journalists associations and human rights organizations," the rights
expert stressed.

Mr. La Rue also emphasized the importance of cultural diversity in the
media, noting the importance of different communities to have channels
through which to express themselves and exchange information in their
own languages.

He also raised concerns about recent attacks against the lesbian, gay,
bisexual and transgender community (LGBT), and noted that the
Government has said it intends to revise the Criminal Code to address
concerns that its provisions relating to hate speech.

Independent experts, or special rapporteurs, are appointed by the
Geneva-based UN Human Rights Council to examine and report back, in an
unpaid capacity, on specific human rights themes. Mr. La Rue will
present his report to the Human Rights Council in Geneva next year.Jun
21 2013 6:00PM
________________
For more details go to UN News Centre at http://www.un.org/news

Follow us on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/UN.News.Centre) and
Twitter (http://twitter.com/UN_News_Centre)

To change your profile or unsubscribe go to: http://www.un.org/apps/news/email/


--
President of The United States
Guy Ralph Perea Sr President of The United States
Weatherdata1046am0426 a Discussion Group of
Weatherdata<http://groups.google.com/group/weatherdata1046am0426>
USFMSC
http://www.cityfreq.com/ca/avalon/>
QUALIFY QICP
OCCUPS
http://www.occupationalinfo.org/02/025062010.html
goldlandabstracts; link check
own search engine - The United
States International Policies
http://apps.facebook.com/faceblogged/?uid=1340855784
http://lnk.ms/8d5gl aol
http://groups.google.com/group/united-states-of-american
http://twitter.com/ptusss Federal Communication
Commission<http://columbiabroadcast.spaces.live.com/>

Ambassador Chevy Chase; Kevin Corcran; Jack Nickolas; Cher; Shirley Temple
Black; Liza Minnille; Ansari; Ernest Tascoe; Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act
Agent Jodie Foster; Department of Veterans Affairs Director George H.W. Bush
Title 22 USCS section 1928 (b) The e-mail
transmission may contain legally privileged information that
is intended only for the individual or entity recipient, you are hereby,
notified that any disclosure, copying, distribution, or reliance upon the
contents of this E-mail is strictly prohibited. If you have received this
E-mail transmission in error, please reply to the sender, so arrangements
can be made for proper delivery. Title 42
USCS section 192 etseq Margie Paxton Chief of Childrens Bureau
Director of The United States Department of Human Services; Defendant
Article IV General Provisions Section 2
(Supreme Law of The Land) The Constitution of The United States "Any thing
in The Constitution or Laws of any State to the Contrary Notwithstanding"
Contrary to Law (of an act or omission) illegal;
https://twitter.com/presidentus1