OSCE, Alm.del - 2010-11 (1. samling) - Bilag 47: OSCE PA - Supplementary Item 1-25

1. Considering the need for free exchange of knowledge and information to fosterinternational peace and stability,2. Noting the principle stressing freedom of thought, entangled in the Helsinki Final Actand other OSCE documents,3. Emphasizing the fundamental importance of freedom of expression – including theprinciples of diversity and pluralism, both inherently and as an essential tool for thedefence of all other rights and as core element of democracy,4. Aware of the enormous potential of the Internet as a tool for realising the right tofreedom of expression and to information and of the effort of some governments torestrict the access to the Internet,5. Cognizant of the limits posed by high usage costs of traditional telecommunicationmedia and of the fact that capital concentration of media and telecommunicationownership can restrict the free movement of thoughts, knowledge and ideas,emphasized by the lack of many governments to adopt and implement lawsguaranteeing the right to plural information and the need for anti-trust measures forwhat concerns media and telecommunication capital ownership,The OSCE Parliamentary Assembly:6. Strongly supports the need for the establishment of free movement of information andknowledge in and between OSCE countries;7. Stresses the need for free access to information, especially through an Internetnetwork easily accessible to all population groups;8. Encourages public agencies to make as much information available pro-actively, tostress free access to it and to facilitate the sharing and interchange of information;9. Recognizes that new technologies strengthen democracy by ensuring easy access toinformation and allowing the public actively to obtain and impart information;10. Welcomes the policy of lowering telecommunication prices between countries of theOSCE and invites all OSCE countries to shape a common strategy in this field;11. Supports media independence and calls OSCE countries to act more decisively onguaranteeing fertile ground for the development of critical, free and pluralised media;12. Calls upon governments to ensure and promote easy access to new technologies byeasing the liberalisation of media and telecommunication markets;