(WAN/IFEX) – The following is a 27 November 2006 WAN press release: Paris, 27 November 2006 Ukraine President Reaffirms Support for Press Freedom The President of Ukraine, Viktor Yushchenko, reaffirmed his commitment to a free press and democratic values in a meeting with the World Association of Newspapers today. “We don’t think any kind of […]
(WAN/IFEX) – The following is a 27 November 2006 WAN press release:
Paris, 27 November 2006
Ukraine President Reaffirms Support for Press Freedom
The President of Ukraine, Viktor Yushchenko, reaffirmed his commitment to a free press and democratic values in a meeting with the World Association of Newspapers today.
“We don’t think any kind of return to the past is possible; it’s out of the question,” said Mr. Yushchenko, who was swept to power in the Orange Revolution two years ago but has since seen his presidential opponent, Viktor Yanukovych, return to power as prime minister.
Speaking to the Board of the Paris-based WAN, meeting in Kiev, the president said: “I believe the natural progress of Ukraine depends on freedom of speech and freedom of the press. It is extremely important for the country to have free media.”
Press freedom has brought economic benefits to the press industry, he said: print circulation increased 6.7 million copies to 22.7 million in the past year, foreign and international press sales have increased 25 percent, and the advertising market is growing.
“We would like to see Ukraine as a European country with high democratic values,” he said, adding that his objectives include membership in the World Trade Organization and the European Union. “We would like to see Ukraine as a country that is a place for wealthy people. I think this is a good goal and we are moving in this direction.”
Mr. Yushchenko said his goals would not be easy to achieve. “To plant seeds and get fruit right away is not a simple thing.”
While Mr. Yushchenko leans toward Western Europe, his opponents, led by the prime minister, lean more toward Russia. Mr. Yushchenko acknowledged this division by saying, “Ukraine must begin to become tolerant of different opinions; it must learn to reach agreement among many different parties. Most of my job today is working with political forces. I work with one goal in mind – we have to learn to co-exist.”
Gavin O’Reilly, the president of WAN, thanked the president for his support of press freedom, particularly his efforts to ensure that attacks against journalists would be prosecuted. “The Ukrainian press has made great strides in a very short time. Although there are still problems to overcome, we hope that conditions have been set under which a free and independent Ukrainian press can thrive,” he said.
The WAN Board meeting continues in Ukraine through Tuesday.
WAN, the global organisation for the newspaper industry, defends and promotes press freedom world-wide. It represents 18,000 newspapers; its membership includes 74 national newspaper associations, newspaper companies and individual newspaper executives in 102 countries, 11 news agencies and nine regional and world-wide press groups.
