His Excellency Dr. Péter Boross
Minister of the Interior and
Acting Prime Minister
Ministry of the Interior
József Attila u. 2-4
1051 Budapest
Hungary

Vienna, 30 October 1993

Your Excellency,

The Executive Board of the International Press Institute (IPI), representing over 2000 journalists and editors from leading newspapers, magazines, broadcasting organizations and news agencies in 68 countries, is most concerned about the recent offensive against radio and television journalists working in Hungary.

The Institute has learned that Acting President of Hungarian Radio, Mr. László Csúcs, cancelled a morning radio programme because it quoted an article in a liberal newspaper written by Mr. Elemar Hankiss, the respected former President of Hungarian Television. We understand that more than 200 radio editors and journalists signed a petition of protest against this action.

IPI also understands that the Acting President of Hungarian TV, Mr. Gábor Nahlik, recently suspended the editor-in-chief of Balance, a liberal news programme, and replaced him with someone close to your Government. After 300 TV journalists and editors signed a petition demanding Mr. Nahlik’s immediate resignation, Balance was taken off the air. We understand that journalists will hold a non-violent demonstration on 30 October 1993 to protest Mr. Nahlik’s actions.

The Executive Board of IPI, presently meeting in Vienna, supports the protests of Hungarian radio and TV journalists. Both Mr. Csúcs and Mr. Nahlik were given their “presidential authority” after your Government dismissed their predecessors last year. At the time, IPI strongly protested this attempt to gain control over the media. The situation had unfortunately deteriorated further. We therefore call upon you to restore “status quo ante”.

IPI also urges your Government to observe the proposals set forth in the Vienna Declaration of Public Broadcasting (presented on this occasion of the European Media Symposium, Vienna, Austria, 22-24 September 1993), which “declares its unconditional support for the development of editorially independent public service broadcasting”. The Vienna Declaration demands, et al, “legal and statutory measures which support the right of journalists and program producers in broadcasting organizations to exercise their profession safely and without interference”.

Thank you for your attention.

Yours sincerely,

Johann P. Fritz
Director