Replies to Russian Claims Regarding Journalists in the United States
As delivered by Chargé d’Affaires, a.i. Kate M. Byrnes
to the Permanent Council, Vienna
June 8, 2017
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
We have taken note of the statement by the Russian Federation, which draws upon an article in a U.S. newspaper. The United States takes seriously its OSCE commitments and its obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, including the right to be free from arbitrary or unlawful interference with privacy in Article 17, as well as its obligations under domestic law, including the Fourth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. The freedoms of expression and association, including for members of the media, are central to a number of our OSCE commitments and are protected by both the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the U.S. Constitution. The freedoms of expression and association are core American values.
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
…/…
Thank you, Mr. Chair. I just want to point out that, actually, I did mention OSCE commitments in my statements, in case the Russian Federation missed that reference. It was in there, and it will be in the written form as well. But I also just want to be very clear for colleagues what we’re talking about here.
The Russian Federation delivered a statement which cites a recent newspaper article as its source. It is a short article, it has few actual details, and it includes a number of suppositions, which is something that the distinguished Russian Federation representative pointed out himself.
The Russian Federation concluded its statement by saying that it urges Washington to end restrictions on freedom of speech and of the press, but nothing in its statement provided information that these freedoms are restricted in the United States. So in reiterating that freedoms of expression and association, including for members of the media, are protected by the U.S. Constitution, I am actually stating the fact.
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
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