(IPI/IFEX) – The following is a press release of the South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO), an affiliate of the IPI: Vienna, 3 May 2001 – World Press Freedom Day, 3 May 2001 The Vienna-based South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO), an affiliate of the International Press Institute (IPI), stressed on World Press Freedom Day […]
(IPI/IFEX) – The following is a press release of the South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO), an affiliate of the IPI:
Vienna, 3 May 2001 – World Press Freedom Day, 3 May 2001
The Vienna-based South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO), an affiliate of the International Press Institute (IPI), stressed on World Press Freedom Day (May 3) its anxiety about the position of journalists and media in South East Europe.
Many minorities, ethnic and religious groups in this region are still prevented from using media to communicate their views or express their identity. Investigative reporters in South East Europe have to contend with organised criminals as well as government officials and bureaucracy. Public TV and radio in South East Europe are often used as instruments of governments, political parties and other interest groups.
In Bulgaria, in March this year, after journalists at Bulgarian National Radio protested the appointment of a new Executive Director who they believed to be politically biased, seven journalists were dismissed.
In Greece, owners of radio stations that were closed down as a consequence of the opening of the new airport in Athens this year are alleging irregularities in the license-granting procedure.
In Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia and Moldova, there have been this year, as SEEMO was informed, a number of threats against journalists.
In Macedonia (FYROM), there were reports that officials eavesdropped and tapped the phone-calls of 17 journalists. Also in Macedonia (FYROM), journalists have been subject to a number of attacks and threats, as a consequence of the violent clashes between Albanian rebels and Macedonian security forces that began in mid-March.
In Romania, a cartoonist was forced to pay a fine because of his political cartoon. There was also a lot of criticism about the Romanian draft Law on State Secrets.
In FR Yugoslavia, the new government has failed to improve the working conditions of independent and professional media and journalists. Despite international protests, the Criminal Defamation Law still represents a threat for journalists in Serbia. In Montenegro, media should be more professional and not instruments of political parties. Yugoslav officials still keep a tight control and exert censorship on books, newspapers, magazines and other publications that are carried into the country from abroad.
SEEMO calls upon decision-makers at all levels in Albania, Bulgaria, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, Greece, Macedonia (FYROM), Moldova, FR Yugoslavia (Serbia, Montenegro, Kosovo) and Romania to do whatever they can to ensure that journalists can pursue their work without hindrance.
SEEMO calls upon the international community to ensure the safety of journalists in Kosovo and help media in Kosovo become more professional and independent.
SEEMO urges journalists in South East Europe to adhere to the highest standards of their profession and to refuse to lend their skills to hate-mongering. SEEMO also urges journalists and media worldwide to be more accurate in reporting from this region, especially from conflict zones like Macedonia (FYROM) or Kosovo.
Oliver Vujovic
SEEMO Secretary-General
The South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO), an affiliate of the International Press Institute (IPI), is a non-governmental, non-profit network of editors, media executives and leading journalists from newspapers, magazines, radio, TV, internet, new media and news agencies in the South Eastern European Region: Albania, Bosnia, Bulgaria, Croatia, FR Yugoslavia (Serbia, Montenegro, Kosovo/Kosova), Greece, Macedonia (FYROM), Moldova and Romania.
