DISINFO: OSCE will not consider citizens of Belarus European, unless Minsk consults pro-EU NGOs about reforms in media sector
SUMMARY
The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Harlem Désir, wants Belarus’ civil society to take part in discussion about reforms of media sector. Civil society actually means pro-EU activists, rather than the NGOs which promote the Union State between Russia and Belarus. If pro-EU activists are not included in the reforms process, then the OSCE will not consider citizens of Belarus as Europeans.
RESPONSE
This message is a conspiracy and consistent with pro-Kremlin narrative about EU strategy to organize a colour revolution in Belarus through financing of controlled NGOs. Excessive state control over the internet in Belarus and other media issues were raised by Harlem Désir in his meetings with the Belarusian authorities with the aim to define the contours of reforms necessary for developing a more favourable and pluralistic media environment. Normally international organizations including the OSCE prefer seeing specialized NGOs as part of consultation process with state authorities, regardless NGOs' foreign-policy priorities. In this case, the OSCE Representative meant the NGOs with a proven expertise in the issues related to media freedom and functioning of the media sector, regardless pro-EU or pro-Russia foreign policy preferences of a given organization or its members. OSCE has never conditioned the acknowledgement of a country as European by the participation of certain NGOs in the reforming process. In fact, the OSCE's 57 participating states are located in Europe, northern and central Asia, and North America.