H. E. Vladimir Meciar
Prime Minister
Office of the Government of
the Slovak Republic
Bratislava
Slovakia

Vienna, 24 May 1996

Your Excellency,

The International Press Institute (IPI), is most concerned about threatening statements directed against the Slovak media by the head of Slovakia’s intelligence service (SIS), Ivan Lexa.

We are informed that in a report to parliament on 22 May 1996, Mr. Lexa dismissed the findings of a committee headed by Ladisalv Pittner, a member of the Christian Democratic Movement, which accused Lexa, the SIS and Interior Minster Ludovit Hudek of complicity in last August’s kidnapping of President Michal Kovac’s son. Mr. Lexa accused the committee of working together with certain media, including Radio Free Europe, the daily newspaper Sme, the private radio station Twist Radio, and the Czech station Nova, to create an anti-Slovak atmosphere. We understand that he said further that journalists who published “state secrets” or spread “lies” could no longer expect any leniency.

IPI, a global network of editors and media executives from newspapers, magazines, broadcasting organisations and news agencies in 85 countries, strongly condemns the unveiled threat against the media. We are deeply concerned about the increasingly hostile climate for journalists in Slovakia and strongly urge Your Excellency to ensure that both domestic and foreign journalists in your country are allowed to exercise their profession without fear of political harassment.

We thank you for your attention.

Yours sincerely,

Johann P. Fritz
Director