His Excellency Fernando de la Rúa
President of the Republic
Buenos Aires
Argentina

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

Vienna, 3 May 2001

Your Excellency,

The International Press Institute (IPI), the global network of editors and media executives, is deeply concerned about plans for a new sales tax on the print media in Argentina.

IPI is informed that, as part of his plan to revive Argentina’s economic growth, Economy Minister Domingo Cavallo has decided to eliminate current tax exemptions on media outlets and apply a 21% value-added tax (VAT) on the sale of newspapers and magazines.

IPI believes that this new VAT would impose an excessive and discriminatory burden on the country’s print media. The planned tax would force an increase in retail prices, thereby making access to news media more expensive and limiting the people’s right to know. Moreover, it would lead to the closing of many small and medium-sized publications and ultimately restrict freedom of expression in Argentina.

Article 13, Paragraph 3, of the American Convention on Human Rights, of which Argentina is a signatory, expressly states that “the right of expression may not be restricted by indirect methods or means … tending to impede the communication and circulation of ideas and opinions.” We therefore call upon Your Excellency to ensure that the planned VAT is not imposed and that the voice of the print media in Argentina is not stifled.

Yours sincerely,

Johann P. Fritz
Director