UK, Finland embassies speak up for freedom of press

Diplomats are notorious for toning down sensitive issues with mildly circumlocutory language but not British Ambassador David Cairns when it came to addressing journalists at last Monday’s reception in his residence to honour their day (actually Sunday).

“A free, independent and pluralistic press is not an optional complement of democracy  but part of its essential structure to ensure the interpellation of power,” he asserted.

That definition applies worldwide but President Javier Milei and libertarian trolls might feel more directly addressed when he said outright: “The intimidation of journalists is unacceptable and the attempts to discredit journalism as such instead of seriously debating its contents damage democratic culture.”

Not that Cairns was denying President Milei his right to reply to the frequent and not always justified criticism in the media but he explained: “There is an important difference between disagreeing with coverage or an opinion and undermining the conditions permitting the existence of independent journalism.”

“Your work matters for public debate, accountability and the quality of democracy,” he told his press guests in conclusion before handing over the microphone to “the birthday girl” (as he revealed), Finnish Ambassador Nicola Lindertz co-hosting the event (in previous years Canada shared the honours at these ‘Día del Periodista’ receptions but since last March Finland has become co-president of the 51-nation Media Freedom Coalition alongside the United Kingdom).

Linertz underlined the importance of professional journalism as an invaluable counterbalance supplying reliable information in an age of fake news. The outgoing envoy could speak confidently with her country consistently in the podium of various índices – the happiest nation in the world for nine years running, second only to Denmark as the least corrupt country according to Transparency and third in the United Nations measurement of the quality of life.

Cairns is also in a relatively favourable phase of a tricky relationship with President Milei voicing his intentions of visiting London and last weekend’s prospect of back-door entrance into a commercial alliance between the two countries via the Argentine application to join the CPTPP (Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership) where Britain is a post-Brexit recruit.