On 23 February 2010, the Federation of Western Thrace Turks in Europe (ABTTF) submitted a written statement entitled “The Problem of Freedom of Expression and Media in Greece” to the 13th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council. The written statement, which has been published on the official web site of the Council, expresses that the decision of the National Council for Radio and Television (ESR) on Tele Radio FM, citing Law Nr. 3592/2007 on “Concentration and Licensing of Media Enterprises and Other Provisions” is a clear violation on freedom of expression and media.
The decision of the National Council for Radio and Television is contrary to freedom of expression and media
The written statatement submitted to the 13th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council, which was held in Geneva, notes that the mentioned law requires radio owners to fullfill a number of requirements on the minimum human and financial resources. Thus, the law burdens a hardship on smaller media organizations and radio stations owned by the Turkish Minority. When considering that Western Thrace is the poorest region in Greece, the minimum disbursed capital for radio stations is disproportionate and it is almost impossible for radio owners in the region and other smaller local media organizations to obtain a license. In addition, it is also expressed in the written statement that the provision, regulating that the main broadcasting language for radio programmes should be Greek, clearly violates the right to freedom of expression and media.
Declaring that Law Nr. 3592/2007 has a negative impact on local and small-sized media organizations, as an example for this, the written statement presents the National Council for Radio and Television (ESR)’s recommendation decision of warning (from 19 October 2009) towards the Tele Radio 104.2 FM. Moreover, the written statement notes that radio stations, which broadcast in English or Russian languages, are not subjected to the requirement that they must also broadcast in Greek language, which clearly shows that National Council’s decision is discriminatory in its nature.
In addition, it is emphasized that the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI) stated its criticism about the law in its report on Greece (fourth monitoring cycle), and moreover, that in 2007 the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media expressed his concern about the law. In light of the information mentioned in the written statement, ABTTF urges Greek Government to review Law 3592/2007 in accordance with international standards on media pluralism and the free flow of information and to take immediate steps to ensure that the freedom of expression, media and free flow of information and a diverse and pluralistic media environment is guaranteed in Greece.
The full text of the written statement can be retrieved here.
Please click here to read the full text of the written statement.
