Doc. 8224
5 October 1998

Violation of the freedom of information and the freedom of the press in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia

Written Declaration No. 284

This written declaration commits only the members who have signed it

1.       We, the undersigned, members of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, view the situation as regards the gathering and dissemination of information in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia as a cause for concern.

2.       The Yugoslav authorities are restricting the free movement of journalists, particularly foreign journalists.

3.       Some journalists have been expelled from Yugoslav territory while others have, for weeks, been refused entry visas. Certain journalists have been subjected to defamation campaigns and even physical violence.

4.       We, the undersigned, believe that these massive violations of the principles of the Council of Europe in the field of information and the media must be denounced by the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly.

5.       We call on the Parliamentary Assembly to complain to the Yugoslav authorities, pointing out that the credibility of a request for readmission to the international community depends inter alia on their guaranteeing the freedom of information.

Signed (see overleaf)

Signed¹:

Antretter, Germany, SOC

De Decker, Belgium, LDR

Frey, Switzerland, LDR

Gross, Switzerland, SOC

Lachat, Switzerland, EPP/CD

Mignon, France, EDG

Muehlemann, Switzerland, LDR

Nothomb, Belgium, EPP/CD

Rugate, Latvia, EPP/CD

Staes, Belgium, EPP/CD

Urbain, Belgium, SOC

________________

Total  = 11

¹        SOC: Socialist Group

      EPP/CD: Group of the European People’s Party

      EDG: European Democratic and Reformers Group

LDR: Liberal, Democratic and Reformers Group

      UEL: Group of the Unified European Left

      NR: not registered in a group