Condolences to the family of APTN producer killed in Kosovo

PRISTINA, 29 March 2001 - The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe offers its sincere condolences and sympathy to the wife and family of APTN producer, Kerem Lawton.

Lawton was a respected and professional journalist, killed while trying to carry out his job. His good humoured, intelligent and persistent presence in the regular Kosovo press corps will be seriously missed.

He and two other people were killed in mortar shelling on the village of Krivenik. It is not known who carried out the attack, which left several people injured.

The OSCE also extends its sympathy to the other victims of the shelling.

Journalists around the world daily risk their lives trying to ensure that their readers and audiences know and understand what is going on. Armed conflict obviously brings some of the greatest risks. But others face criminal and political pressures which too bring dangers.

The OSCE is committed to the growth of free and democratic media. The death of any independent journalist in such tragic circumstances brings great sadness.