**Updates IFEX alerts of 20 January 1999, 22 December, 21 December, 24 November, 30 September and 19 May 1998, 19 December, 21 October and 6 May 1997, 10 October, 26 September, 19 September, 14 June, 12 June and 8 May 1996** (WAN/IFEX) – The following is a WAN press release: Paris, 25 January 1999 For […]
**Updates IFEX alerts of 20 January 1999, 22 December, 21 December, 24
November, 30 September and 19 May 1998, 19 December, 21 October and 6 May
1997, 10 October, 26 September, 19 September, 14 June, 12 June and 8 May
1996**
(WAN/IFEX) – The following is a WAN press release:
Paris, 25 January 1999
For immediate release
WAN Asks Croatia: Pay Debts to Newspapers
The World Association of Newspapers (WAN) has asked Croatian President
Franjo Tudjman to ensure that state-owned firms pay their debts to the
independent daily newspaper The Feral Tribune, a frequent critic of the
government.
“In doing so, you will allay any suspicions that the withholding of these
payments is politically motivated, particularly in the run-up to the first
round of state elections,” WAN said in a letter to the Croatian President.
The state-owned distribution company Tisak, responsible for 75 percent of
distribution in Croatia, reportedly owes The Feral Tribune 1.3 million kuna
(US$ 207,000) for newspaper copies sold in November and December 1998. The
state-owned newspaper company Slobodna Dalmacija reportedly owes an
additional 2.6 million kuna to the newspaper.
“The Feral Tribune has steadily increased its distribution over recent years
and would otherwise be prospering were it not for the 3.9 million kuna owed
it by state enterprises,” said WAN in asking President Tudjman to ensure
that the companies pay their debts.
WAN had earlier protested to President Tudjman that the state monopoly of
newspaper distribution was being used to prevent the circulation of
newspapers which are critical of the government. It also criticised the use
of Croatia’s courts to harass and intimidate newspapers. The Feral Tribune
alone has seventy lawsuits pending against it, and was ordered to pay
damages of several hundred thousand German marks last October.
The Paris-based WAN, the global association of the newspaper industry,
defends and promotes press freedom and the economic independence of
newspapers world-wide.It represents 15,000 newspapers and its membership
includes 57 national newspaper publisher associations, individual newspaper
executives in 90 countries, 17 news agencies and seven regional press
groups.
