VIENNA, 16 May 2019 – The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Harlem Désir, shared a legal review with the Minister of Information Society and Administration of North Macedonia, Damjan Mancevski, on the latest amendments to the Law on Audio and Audio-visual Media Services.
The Office of the Representative on Freedom of the Media had commissioned Katrin Nyman Metcalf, a renowned international expert in communications law, to conduct the analysis.
“I welcome the adoption of the amended law. I very much appreciate the co-operation we established with the Government of North Macedonia during the different stages of its development. The law is now in general accordance with European and international standards on audio-visual media. It contains numerous positive elements, such as provisions to strengthen the diversity of representation in various media regulatory bodies, and to ensure that the interests of different ethnic groups are taken into consideration,” Désir said.
“The analysis offers recommendations related to several provisions that still need to be addressed. These include issues related to the banning of public advertising or public funding for advertising and the difficulty in implementing the system by which broadcasters can receive a reduced licence fee if they broadcast Macedonian content.”
The Representative emphasized the expert’s suggestion that each concern can be addressed in the form of new legal amendments, or through sub-legal acts where appropriate.
“I trust that the legal review and the recommendations provided therein will be taken into account, which would ensure that the legislation complies with OSCE media freedom commitments and international standards,” Désir concluded.
The Law was adopted by the parliament on 28 December 2018 and entered into force on 8 January 2019.
The full text of the legal review is available here.
ALGER – Les pays doivent travailler à attirer davantage de financements privés et combler le déficit d’investissement pour parvenir au développement durable, a indiqué mercredi l’Organisation des Nations Unies pour l’alimentation et l’Agriculture (FAO) sur son site web. Le directeur général adjoint de la FAO chargé des Programmes, Daniel Gustafson, a estimé qu’éradiquer la faim et […]
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This report is for the media and the general public.
Summary
Ceasefire violations[1]
In Donetsk region, the SMM recorded more ceasefire violations, including, however, fewer explosions (about 190), compared with the previous reporting period (about 310 explosions). The majority of ceasefire violations were recorded at south-easterly and southerly directions of Chermalyk (government-controlled, 31km north-east of Mariupol) and southerly, westerly and northerly directions of Horlivka (non-government-controlled, 39km north-east of Donetsk).
During the evening of 14 May, the SMM camera at the Donetsk Filtration Station (DFS) (15km north of Donetsk) again recorded ceasefire violations in its vicinity, including two undetermined explosions and 44 projectiles in flight at an assessed range of 0.5-1.5km south, south-south-west and south-south-east (for similar observations, see SMM Daily Report 15 May 2019). During the day on 15 May, positioned in Shyrokyne (government-controlled, 20km east of Mariupol), the SMM heard and saw 90 shots of small-arms fire at an assessed range of 150-200m south-south-east, assessed as live-fire training exercise inside the security zone, in violation of the decision of the Trilateral Contact Group of 3 March 2016 that prohibits the conduct of live-fire training in the security zone.
In Luhansk region, the Mission recorded more ceasefire violations, including 15 explosions, compared with the previous reporting period (ten explosions). The majority of ceasefire violations were recorded at north-easterly, south-westerly and westerly directions of Holubivske (non-government-controlled, 51km west of Luhansk).
While on the northern edge of Popasna (government-controlled, 69km west of Luhansk), the SMM heard and saw two explosions, assessed as impacts of rounds of undetermined weapons, at an assessed range of 1-2km south.
Outgoing fire close to SMM near DFS
On the morning of 15 May, an SMM patrol was positioned on road H20 about 2km south-east of Kamianka (government-controlled, 20km north of Donetsk) and about 3.5km north-west of the DFS to monitor the security situation. Despite security guarantees that a localized ceasefire would be adhered to, the SMM heard three explosions assessed as rounds of outgoing fire of undetermined weapons at an assessed range of 100-300m west of its position. The SMM immediately left the area. There were no injuries to the SMM and its property was undamaged. (See SMM Spot Report 15 May 2019).
Small-arms fire directed at SMM mini-unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) near Bila Kamianka
On 15 May, while conducting a mini-UAV flight about 3km east of Starohnativka (government-controlled, 51km south of Donetsk), the SMM heard ten bursts of small-arms fire 2.5-3km east, assessed as aimed at the UAV, which was flying about 2.7km east of its position over an area near Bila Kamianka (non-government-controlled, 51km south of Donetsk). The SMM safely landed the UAV.*
Disengagement areas[2]
Aerial imagery available to the SMM revealed the presence, on 13 May, of an armoured combat vehicle (ACV) and two probable ACVs near a checkpoint of the Ukrainian Armed Forces about 160m north of the northern edge of the disengagement area near Zolote (government-controlled, 60km west of Luhansk), as well as seven craters assessed as caused by impacts of undetermined weapons about 120m west of its western edge. On the morning of 15 May, positioned 1.5km south-west of Molodizhne (non-government-controlled, 63km north-west of Luhansk), the SMM heard two undetermined explosions at an assessed range of 1-2km north, assessed as outside the Zolote disengagement area.
During the same day, positioned about 2km north of Petrivske (non-government-controlled, 41km south of Donetsk), the SMM heard and saw an explosion, assessed as the impact of a round of an undetermined weapon, at an assessed distance of 1km south-west (assessed as outside the disengagement area).
Positioned inside the disengagement area near Stanytsia Luhanska (government-controlled, 16km north-east of Luhansk), the Mission observed a calm situation.
Withdrawal of weapons
The SMM continued to monitor the withdrawal of weapons in implementation of the Memorandum and the Package of Measures and its Addendum.
In violation of withdrawal lines
Non-government-controlled areas
14 May
An SMM long-range UAV spotted:
An SMM mini-UAV spotted three tanks (T-64) near residential houses in Stepanivka (62km west of Luhansk).
Beyond the withdrawal lines but outside of designated storage sites
Government-controlled areas
14 May
An SMM mini-UAV spotted 12 towed howitzers (2A65) and four anti-tank guns (MT-12) at a railway station in Rubizhne (84km north-west of Luhansk).
15 May
The SMM saw four surface-to-air missile systems (9K37) at a railway station in Rubizhne.
Non-government-controlled areas
14 May
An SMM long-range UAV spotted:
An SMM mini-UAV again spotted three tanks (T-72) near Kalynove (60km west of Luhansk).
15 May
The SMM saw three tanks (T-72) in a training area near Ternove (57km east of Donetsk).
Weapons that the SMM could not verify as withdrawn[3]
At heavy weapons holding areas beyond the respective withdrawal lines in government-controlled areas of Luhansk region
15 May
The SMM noted that 15 towed howitzers (D-30), 21 self-propelled howitzers (2S1) and six anti-tank guns (MT-12) were present, and that 23 self-propelled howitzers (2S3 Akatsiya, 152mm) and nine tanks (T-72) remained missing.
Weapons permanent storage site
At a permanent storage site in a government-controlled area of Luhansk region
15 May
The SMM noted that 33 tanks (six T-72 and 27 T-64), a towed howitzer (D-44, 85mm), two anti-tank guns (D-48, 85mm) and 17 mortars (12 2B9 Vasilek, 82mm, three 2B14 Podnos, 82mm and two BM-37) remained missing.
Indications of military and military-type presence in the security zone[4]
Government-controlled areas
13 May
Aerial imagery available to the SMM revealed the presence of an ACV and two probable ACVs near a checkpoint of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the vicinity of the disengagement area near Zolote (see above).
15 May
The SMM saw, on two occasions, an infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) (BTR-4) near Novobakhmutivka (28km north of Donetsk).
Non-government-controlled areas
14 May
An SMM long-range UAV spotted:
An SMM mini-UAV spotted an ACV near Kalynove.
Mines seen for the first time between Krasnohorivka and Staromykhailivka
On 13 May, an SMM mid-range UAV spotted for the first time 15 anti-tank mines across a road east of Krasnohorivka (government-controlled, 21km west of Donetsk) leading to non-government-controlled areas. About 700m east of the aforementioned mines, the same UAV spotted for the first time 55 anti-tank mines laid out in two rows extending 50m across the northern and southern sides of the same road and into adjacent fields. About 1km east of the latter mines, the same UAV spotted for the first time 20 anti-tank mines laid out in three rows extending 15m across the northern and southern sides of the same road and into adjacent fields in the western outskirts of Staromykhailivka (non-government-controlled, 15km west of Donetsk).
On 14 May, an SMM mid-range UAV again spotted four anti-tank mines (probable TM-62) laid across road T-0519 on the western outskirts of Pikuzy (formerly Kominternove, non-government-controlled, 23km north-east of Mariupol).
Around 2km west of Krynychne (non-government-controlled, 45km west of Luhansk), the SMM saw for the first time a red metal mine hazard sign with “Stop Mine” written in Russian language attached to a wooden post in a field about 1m south of a local road.
SMM facilitation of repairs to civilian infrastructure
The SMM facilitated and monitored adherence to the ceasefire to enable repairs to the Petrivske pumping station near Artema (government-controlled, 26km north of Luhansk), as well as to water pipelines near Zolote and between Zolote-2/Karbonit (government-controlled, 62km west of Luhansk), Zolote-3/Stakhanovets (government-controlled, 61km west of Luhansk) and Popasna. The Mission continued to facilitate the operation of the DFS and heard explosions near its position (see above). It also monitored the security situation in the area of the pumping station near Vasylivka (non-government-controlled, 20km north of Donetsk) and positioned in the vicinity of the pumping station during the day it heard ceasefire violations.
Border areas not under government control
On 13 May, while at a border crossing point near Uspenka (73km south-east of Donetsk) for about 30 minutes, the SMM saw eight cars (five with Ukrainian licence plates, as well as three with “DPR” plates), two covered cargo trucks and a bus (all with Russian Federation licence plates) and 20 pedestrians entering Ukraine, as well as three cars (one with Ukrainian and one with Russian Federation licence plates, as well as one with “DPR” plates) and 31 trucks (30 with covered cargo and one tanker; 19 with Ukrainian and three with Russian Federation licence plates, as well as nine with “DPR” plates) exiting Ukraine.
On 15 May, while at a border crossing point near Marynivka (78km east of Donetsk) for about an hour, the SMM saw 20 cars (three with Ukrainian, nine with Russian Federation and one with Polish licence plates, as well as seven with “DPR” plates), a covered cargo truck (with Ukrainian licence plates) and nine pedestrians entering Ukraine, as well as 24 cars (two with Ukrainian, nine with Russian Federation and one with Georgian licence plates, as well as 12 with “DPR” plates), two covered cargo trucks (one with Belarusian licence plates, as well as one with “LPR” plates) and four buses (with “DPR” plates) exiting Ukraine.
People apply for passports of the Russian Federation in Luhansk and Donetsk regions
In non-government-controlled areas of Luhansk region, the SMM again observed about 60 people (mixed gender and ages) in a queue in front of a building in Antratsyt (55km south-west of Luhansk). Several people waiting told the SMM that they had been queuing to submit applications for passports of the Russian Federation.
In non-government-controlled areas of Donetsk region, the SMM observed a queue of ten people inside a building in Dokuchaievsk (30km south-west of Donetsk) who told the SMM that they were waiting to submit applications for passports of the Russian Federation. The SMM saw an information board outside the aforementioned building as well as handouts explaining the procedures to submit applications for “DPR” “passports” and passports of the Russian Federation.
The SMM continued monitoring in Kherson, Odessa, Lviv, Ivano-Frankivsk, Kharkiv, Dnipro, Chernivtsi and Kyiv.
*Restrictions of SMM’s freedom of movement or other impediments to fulfilment of its mandate
The SMM’s monitoring and freedom of movement are restricted by security hazards and threats, including risks posed by mines, UXO and other impediments – which vary from day to day. The SMM’s mandate provides for safe and secure access throughout Ukraine. All signatories of the Package of Measures have agreed on the need for this safe and secure access, that restriction of the SMM’s freedom of movement constitutes a violation, and on the need for rapid response to these violations. They have also agreed that the Joint Centre on Control and Co-ordination should contribute to such response and co-ordinate mine clearance. Nonetheless, the armed formations in parts of Donetsk and Luhansk regions frequently deny the SMM access to areas adjacent to Ukraine’s border outside control of the Government (for example, see SMM Daily Report 14 May 2019). The SMM’s operations in Donetsk and Luhansk regions remain restricted following the fatal incident of 23 April 2017 near Pryshyb; these restrictions continued to limit the Mission’s observations.
Denials of access:
Regular restrictions related to disengagement areas and mines/UXO:
Other impediments:
[1] For a complete breakdown of ceasefire violations, please see the annexed table. During the reporting period, the SMM camera in Stanytsia Luhanska (government-controlled, 16km north-east of Luhansk) was not operational.
[2]Disengagement is foreseen in the Framework Decision of the Trilateral Contact Group relating to disengagement of forces and hardware of 21 September 2016.
[3] The SMM observed weapons that could not be verified as withdrawn, as their storage did not comply with the criteria set out in the 16 October 2015 notification from the SMM to the signatories of the Package of Measures on effective monitoring and verification of the withdrawal of heavy weapons.
[4] The hardware mentioned in this section is not proscribed by the provisions of the Minsk agreements on the withdrawal of weapons.
Au terme de la cérémonie d'installation des députés de la 8ème législature, les députés Nassirou Bako Arifari, Robert Gbian, Georges Bada et Luc Atrokpo se sont prononcés.
Nassirou Bako Arifari place cette législature sous le signe de la réconciliation et du dialogue. Après une pensée pour tous ceux qui ont perdu la vie au cours de ces élections, il a rappelé que « c'est la première fois qu'une élection a été organisée dans ces circonstances ». « Nous ne méritons pas plus que ceux qui ne sont pas présents aujourd'hui », a souligné l'élu du parti Bloc Républicain. Il invite ses collègues députés à se battre pour une réconciliation entre les élus et le peuple. « Ils doivent travailler pour créer une passerelle de dialogue avec tous, afin de favoriser la mise en place d'un espace de dialogue entre le peuple et les députés », a souhaité Bako Arifari.
Pour Robert Gbian, cette législature étonnera le peuple béninois. Rappelant les défis du parlement béninois, il a insisté que la huitième législature aura pour principal défi, la préservation de l'Etat de droit et le rayonnement de la démocratie. Selon l'ancien 2ème vice-président de l'Assemblée nationale, l'installation s'est passée dans le calme et une bonne ambiance. La 7ème législature rappelle-t-il, a fait beaucoup de travail, mais cette législature sera plus active que la précédente et « nous allons évoluer dans le sens de l'amélioration des conditions de vie des Béninois », a-t-il indiqué.
Au sujet de son choix entre l'hémicycle et la mairie d'Abomey-Calavi, Georges Bada déclare qu'à « l'Assemblée nationale comme à la mairie d'Abomey-Calavi, l'essentiel reste le développement de la nation ». Une réponse qui laisse du doute sur le choix du maire d'Abomey-Calavi.
Par rapport à son éventuelle candidature pour le perchoir, la réponse du maire de Bohicon est catégorique. ‘'Je ne suis pas candidat'', a martelé Luc Atrokpo. Le député-maire félicite tous les députés sortants notamment leur président maître Adrien Houngbédji pour leur grand mérite et appelle tous les députés entrant à œuvrer pour un réel contrôle de l'action gouvernementale et pour le vote de lois véritablement axées sur le développement.
Suivant les dispositions de la loi, une fois élu, les députés disposent d'un délai de 30 jours pour opérer un choix puisque les dispositions légales interdisent le cumul de mandats électifs au Bénin. En dehors des maires d'Abomey-Calavi et de Bohicon, certains membres du gouvernement sont aussi concernés par cette disposition.
F. A. A.
Jelentette ki Bogdan Licu, megbízott legfőbb ügyész. Elmondása szerint Románia választási időszakban van, ami nem fog lezárulni most, az európai parlamenti választásokkal. Az országban gyakorlatilag jövő év végéig kampány lesz. Emiatt pedig bármikor előfordulhat még egy augusztus 10-e a megbízott legfőbb ügyész szerint.