Belgrade authorities refuse visa for OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media

VIENNA, 7 September 1998 - Authorities in Belgrade refuse visa to OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Freimut Duve.

Duve's proposal to get personally engaged in Belgrade in favor of visas for foreign journalists was rejected in a letter from the Yugoslav Ambassador in Vienna, September 4.

Duve is informed that he could not get a visa before the settlement of FRY's full membership in the OSCE. Yugoslav authorities claim that German journalists are secretly working for intelligence services.

Freimut Duve declared:

"Once again, the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia does not accept an OSCE Representative in the country. The refusal of Felipe Gonzales was even accompanied by a referendum. On the other hand, FRY wants to regain full membership in the OSCE. The OSCE commitments imply contacts in cases of dispute in the spirit of security and cooperation. Tito himself, as President of the former Yugoslavia, signed in 1975 his country's acceptance of the principles and commitments of the Conference for Security and Cooperation in Europe.

In my work with almost all Member states, unhindered access has been the practice. This applies also to Governments to which I have addressed criticism."