Iran’s national broadcaster, IRIB, has accused the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) of acting unprofessionally by refusing to let IRIB take part in its general assembly in Copenhagen last week. Although IRIB is associate member, the EBU withdrew the invitation for the Iranian broadcaster to attend and called on Iran to remove all obstacles to journalists covering the aftermath of the country’s presidential election.
In a statement, IRIB said the EBU’s actions could “by no means (be) described as a professional and journalistic move”. “The presence of IRIB’s representative in the sessions could have helped all sides to evaluate each other’s positions objectively and reach a common understanding.”
The main objectives of the regional broadcasting unions were to tap the full potential of information gathering and dissemination, and provide media freedom and multiplicity worldwide, IRIB said. “This can only be realised through the exchanges of opinions to achieve a rational and logical framework about world events.” It said that under the EBU’s statutes, all members, full or associate, were entitled to participate in the general assembly.
IRIB said it had assisted foreign broadcasters covering the election and had made its technical facilities available to them. Representatives of European and international news agencies had expressed “full satisfaction” at IRIB’s cooperation, it said.
(Source: Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union)
