Press freedom 2003

Rauf R. Denktash
Leader of the Turkish-Cypriot Community Lefkosa

Your Excellency,

The Vienna-based South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO), a network of editors, media executives and leading journalists in South East Europe and an affiliate of the International Press Institute (IPI), is deeply concerned about the safety of journalists working for the Turkish-Cypriot newspaper AFRIKA.

According to information before SEEMO, on 30 September 2003 the leaders of the "Grey Wolves" organisation from the "Turkish Republic of
Northern Cyprus" threatened two Afrika journalists, Shener Levent and Ali Osman, as well as their colleagues, via the local newspaper, Volkan.

Therefore, SEEMO calls upon the Turkish-Cypriot authorities to do everything in their power to secure a working environment for journalists in which
freedom of expression is respected and the physical safety of journalists ensured.

We thank you for your attention.

Yours sincerely,

Oliver Vujovic
SEEMO Secretary General