Roberto Battelli speaks at the 2013 High-Level Conference on Tolerance and Non-discrimination in Albania.TIRANA, Albania, 21 May 2013 – Governments and parliaments should increase efforts to counter hate speech or racist content on-air and online, OSCE Parliamentary Assembly Special Representative on South East Europe Roberto Battelli said today at the opening of the OSCE High-Level Conference on Tolerance and Non-discrimination in Tirana.
Speaking at the opening of the Tolerance and Non-Discrimination conference, Battelli said, "Despite the progress made, the OSCE region still remains vulnerable to intolerant behavior and discrimination on the basis of religion, ethnicity and gender."
"We urge the participating States to increase their efforts to counter the spread of anti-Semitic and racist content," Battelli said, urging countries to use existing laws or adopt new ones in line with their OSCE commitments on the freedom of expression.
In his opening remarks, Battelli also focused on the need to counter discriminatory stereotypes and attitudes among younger people, to increase Holocaust awareness programs, and to identify necessary resources to accomplish these goals fundamental to more tolerant societies.
Battelli is also in Albania to begin his work representing the OSCE as the Special Co-ordinator appointed to lead the short-term OSCE observer mission to the 23 June elections.
"These elections will be another test of how ready the political actors are to contribute actively and constructively to the work of the country's institutions despite their political competition and controversies about the interpretation and implementation of laws," said Battelli. "The most important OSCE objective is to enable the citizens to assess the performance of the political competitors and to make their choice without unfair impediments on the electoral process."
Battelli said a campaign focused on allegations of electoral irregularities would further alienate voters and add more obstacles to Albania's path towards EU membership.
Battelli's extensive pre-electoral visit continues until Friday and includes meeting with Prime Minister Sali Berisha and other government officials. Throughout the next days, the delegation, which includes OSCE PA Special Representative Ambassador Andreas Nothelle, will meet government and opposition representatives, the election administration, civil society, media analysts, members of the international community including the ODIHR in Tirana.
