In 1993, by a decision of the UN General Assembly, May 3 was proclaimed World Press Freedom Day. "Our Ukraine" congratulates the Ukrainian public on this important and relevant date for our country! We are convinced that after the democratic Maidan of 2004, the state of press freedom and freedom of speech in Ukraine improved qualitatively, but did not reach the high level characteristic of European societies. We express our gratitude to those Ukrainian journalists and media workers who played an important role in consolidating democracy in Ukraine and in establishing the independence of editorial policy from the political and private interests of media owners.
\n \nAt the same time, "Our Ukraine" is aware that such positive trends in press and speech freedom by no means reflect the real situation of Ukrainian journalists and the media. The profession of a Ukrainian journalist continues to remain one that requires an appropriate level of security and state protection. This is precisely what prompted the UN's appeal to the government and state authorities of Ukraine, which noted certain successes and at the same time outlined current problems that restrict press and speech freedom in our country. Among the obstacles to press and speech freedom, it is necessary to name the authorities' use of administrative influence, interference in editorial policy, political patronage of the media, insufficient access to information, and insufficient conditions for independent journalism.
\n \n"Our Ukraine," honoring Ukrainian journalists and media workers on this significant day, hopes that the executive branch will do everything necessary to establish worthy conditions for the development of press freedom and freedom of speech in Ukraine. We are convinced that the sad examples of intrusive, overbearing, non-partner-like cooperation between the authorities and representatives of certain pro-government political forces with Ukrainian journalists and the media must recede into the past forever.
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