Brussels, 31/01/2002 (Agence Europe) - On behalf of the European Union, the Spanish Presidency has made the following declaration:
"The European Union is seriously concerned at recent events affecting the Russian media, which could be interpreted as encouragement to take measures to restrict freedom of the press, and is monitoring the situation closely.
The EU respects the decisions of the judicial institutions of the Russian Federation.
The EU must nevertheless note with concern the verdict pronounced by the Highest Arbitration Court upholding the liquidation of MNVK, the parent broadcasting company of TV6.
The EU, referring to its declaration of 7 December 2001 on the same subject, regrets that the closure of TV6, the last nationwide private television channel, is resulting in a considerable impoverishment of the Russian audiovisual panorama.
The EU highlights the importance of equal treatment for all media, private or public.
The plurality and independence of the news media are a key element in the democratic values upon which the strategic partnership between the EU and Russia is founded. The EU hopes that the Russian authorities will take measures enabling the plurality of the media in Russia to be preserved and strengthened."