without government subsidies. Examples how such subsidies can be organised without making media the tool of the government were presented by a number of Western delegates, i.a. from Sweden, Germany, Canada and the United States. The group remarked positively that the CSCE underlines the need for the right to communicate as a part of the freedom of information and media. Freedom of information does not only serve publishers and journalists, but first of all the citizen wishing to receive and to impart information. Not only the freedom of the press must be protected but also the diversity and plurality of information, the right of minorities and national cultural identity. It was very helpful for the discussion that this point of view was not only supported unequivocally by Canadian delegates but also accepted by experts from the United States. In most Eastern countries, media systems are needed which permit the peaceful coexistence of conflicting interests, such as the conflict between central and regional authorities, between the centre and the periphery, between majority and minority interests, between members of different religions and cultures. Free market mechanisms alone normally do not create and sustain such balancing. Content-wise, DG 3 tackled the complex relations between freedom and the necessary means of achieving, exercising and safeguarding it, between matter and spirit, or in a marxist sense, between (the material) basis and (the ideal) superstructure. A report provided by the Trans Atlantic Dialogue on European Broadcasting and describing the current media situation in 28 states of Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union made it unmistakably clear that there are still many material and economic obstacles standing in the way of genuine, lasting media independence. DG 3 felt that plain, unbiased information about national media developments is the basis of all co-operation projects and asks CSCE to work with competent bodies to assemble, publish and update - preferably annually - a concise status report on media in developing CSCE countries. DG 3 felt the urgent need of a clearinghouse where information about ongoing projects in the field of East-West technical assistance, programme co-operation and training can be deposited and obtained. Such clearinghouse functions should be carried out by existing organisations - such as the EBU in the field of broadcasting - enabling, however, other interested and competent organisations to supply and receive information. A special study was proposed by the representative of the Trans Atlantic Dialogue. Pointing to the need of many smaller and local stations in the East for a sustaining TV signal to accompany and enlarge locally produced programmes, he proposed an international consortium to create a multi-originprogramme-package, to be jointly provided by commercial and public services to such local stations. Such a programme, provided via satellite, would enable local stations to opt in and out at will, depending on their local production power. Feasibility, structure and cost of such a project could be established through a feasibility study under the auspices of CSCE. During the discussions a number of suggestions were made (and received by the ODIHR secretariat) concerning the topics of future studies and meetings. DG 3, considering the present seminar an important first step in the development of continuous discussion platforms between East and West, endorses the idea of the CSCE Human Dimension forum and encourages ODIHR to actively pursue the preparation and organisation of follow-up activities to some of the points raised and identified in the seminar. Dr. Richard W. Dill, Germany Foreign Programme co-ordinator, ARD****** Summary Address at the Closing Plenary I want to begin by quoting one of the many moving pleas we heard this week from people of Central and Eastern Europe. It came from Daniela Rozgonova of the Slovak Republic. CSCE ODIHR BULLETIN Vol. 2, No. 1 35