(WAN/IFEX) – WAN has been given the green light by the Algerian authorities to send a delegation to Algiers next week for discussions with senior government officials about the country’s information policies. The five-man delegation will give its views on the reform of Algerian press laws and express its concerns about limitations on press freedom. […]
(WAN/IFEX) – WAN has been given the green light by the Algerian authorities
to send a delegation to Algiers next week for discussions with senior
government officials about the country’s information policies. The five-man
delegation will give its views on the reform of Algerian press laws and
express its concerns about limitations on press freedom. It will also pay
tribute to more than 60 Algerian media workers who have been murdered during
the six-year conflict in the country and inquire about investigations into
their deaths. The delegation, which will hold extensive meetings with
Algerian publishers and editors, will raise the issue of visas for foreign
journalists and the difficulties the foreign press has had in covering the
country’s turmoil.
“The World Association of Newspapers believes that more press freedom and
better access to information will help the international community achieve a
better understanding of the situation in Algeria. This can only be to the
benefit of everybody, including the Algerian authorities”, said Timothy
Balding, Director General of the Paris-based WAN and a member of the delegation.
The WAN delegation, which will stay in Algeria from 15 March until 19 March
1998, will also include Pedro J. Ramirez, editor-in-chief of El Mundo”,
Madrid; Gebran Tuéni, general manager of “An-Nahar”, Beirut; Amin Ammourieh,
a journalist with “An-Nahar”, and Claude Galipeau, executive assistant to
the WAN Director General.
WAN, the global association of the newspaper industry, groups more than
15,000 newspapers in over 90 countries. The Algerian Association of
Newspaper Publishers is a member of WAN.
