*EUR409 04/05/01
Text: U.S. Statement on TV Network Ownership Dispute in Russia
(International investors offer opportunity to resolve issues) (300)

The United States calls the NTV television network in Russia that country's "premier independent source of news and information" and says the ongoing dispute over control of the network should be resolved "through a transparent legal process."

Following is the text of the U.S. statement issued April 5 by the State Department:

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U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Office of the Spokesman
April 5, 2001

Statement by Richard Boucher, Spokesman

RUSSIA: NTV OWNERSHIP DISPUTE

The United States has followed closely the ongoing dispute over management control of the NTV television network. As Russia's premier independent source of news and information, NTV has played an important role in the development of political and media pluralism in Russia.

The issues surrounding control over share ownership and voting rights of those shares are complex, and should be resolved through a transparent legal process. We believe the interest expressed by international investors, including the consortium led by Ted Turner, offers an opportunity to resolve these issues in the interests of all concerned. It is important that the NTV editorial staff continue to exercise full control over news and information programming on NTV. We note that many inside Russia share this view.

The United States is convinced that independent media are as essential to democracy in Russia as in any other nation. Actions that result in restrictions on Russia's only independent national television station, NTV, and its parent company, Media-Most, run counter to the significant progress toward press freedom which has been achieved in Russia over the past decade.

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(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
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