234 Ford House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515-6460
Hon. Alcee L. Hastings, Chairman
Hon. Benjamin L. Cardin, Co-Chairman

www.csce.gov
Media Contact: Lale Mamaux
202.225.1901
December 13, 2007

HELSINKI COMMISSION TO HOLD MEDIA FREEDOM HEARING

OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Miklos Haraszti to Testify Before the Commission

(Washington, D.C.) Congressman Alcee L. Hastings (D-FL), Chairman of the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe (the Helsinki Commission) and Co-Chairman Senator Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD), will hold a hearing on “Freedom of the Media in the OSCE Region” on Thursday, December 13 at 10:00 a.m. in room B-318 of the Rayburn House Office Building. Testifying before the Commission will be Mr. Miklos Haraszti, Representative on Freedom of the Media for the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). During the hearing, Mr. Haraszti will address media freedom trends in the OSCE region as well as the challenge of protecting freedom of the media while combating intolerance.

As OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Mr. Haraszti observes media developments for all of the 56 participating OSCE States, provides early warnings on violations of freedom of expression, and promotes full compliance with OSCE press freedom commitments.

WHAT: Helsinki Commission Media Freedom Hearing
WHEN: Thursday, December 13 at 10:00 a.m.
WHERE: B-318 Rayburn House Office Building

The Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe, also known as the Helsinki Commission, is a U.S. Government agency that monitors progress in the implementation of the provisions of the 1975 Helsinki Accords. The Commission consists of nine members from the United States Senate, nine from the House of Representatives, and one member each from the Departments of State, Defense and Commerce.