H.E. Néstor Kirchner
President of the Republic
Office of the President
Balcarce 50
1064 Buenos Aires
Argentina

Fax: (+5411) 43 44 37 89 / 43 44 37 65

Vienna, 2 October 2003

Your Excellency,

The International Press Institute (IPI), the global network of editors, media executives and leading journalists, is deeply concerned that the value-added tax (VAT) imposed on Argentina’s print media will lead to the closure of many small and medium-sized publications and ultimately restrict freedom of expression in Argentina.

IPI believes the current VAT regulations constitute an excessive and discriminatory burden on the country’s smaller newspapers and magazines, most of which are published in the provinces. The tax will not only force an increase in retail prices and make access to news media more expensive, it will also lead to the closure of many smaller publications and limit the people’s right to know.

We are informed that while other small and medium-sized companies in Argentina are subject to favourable VAT regulations, publishing companies are inexplicably excluded from this policy. We therefore call upon Your Excellency to do everything in your power to ensure that small and medium-sized publications are exempted from paying full VAT, thereby ensuring that the voice of the print media in Argentina is not stifled.

We thank you for your attention.

Yours sincerely,

Johann P. Fritz
Director