SEEMO FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT DECLARATION

Ljubljana, 9 May 2002  

Editors-in-Chief, Publishers, Media Managers, Directors of Media Institutes and Leading Journalists in South East Europe, attending the regional SEEMO (South East Europe Media Organisation) Meeting and IPI (International Press Institute) World Congress, agreed to appeal to the governments in the region to take the necessary measures to facilitate the free flow of information, people and ideas across national borders within South East Europe (Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Greece, Hungary, Republic of Macedonia - FYROM, Moldova, Romania, Serbia-Montenegro / Kosovo, Slovakia, Slovenia, Turkey and Ukraine). We are requesting: 

• to allow the free circulation of all printed media, without obstruction of the boarder authorities (police, customer)  within South East Europe;
• to make borders as much as possible open for free exchange of ideas and information;
• to allow journalists to exercise their profession without hindrance by ensuring that if there is a need to obtain visas, these are provided rapidly, free of charge and without bureaucratic interference.