The Honourable Nusret Kalac
Mayor of Rozaj
Rozaj, Serbia and Montenegro
Fax: +381 87 27 04 30, 27 04 31

Cc: H.E. Milo Djukanovic
President of the Democratic
Party of Socialists of Montenegro
and Prime Minister of Montenegro
Podgorica, Serbia and Montenegro
Fax: +381 81 242 329

Vienna, 21 July 2005

Dear Mayor Kalac,

The Vienna-based South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO), a network of editors, media executives and leading journalists in South East Europe and an affiliate of the International Press Institute (IPI), is alarmed about an incident that took place in the municipal building in Rozaj.

SEEMO is informed that on 7 July, Aida Skorupan, correspondent for the Podgorica daily newspaper Vijesti, was forced to leave a press conference held by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in the municipal building in Rozaj. SEEMO understands that an employee of the municipal office forced Ms. Skorupan to leave the building, explaining that the order was given by the Mayor. He added that according to your instructions, Ms. Skorupan could not be present at any future meetings taking place in the building.

SEEMO condemns this treatment of a journalist, especially since the incident occurred during a press conference organised by an international organisation inside a municipal building. Municipal buildings, like any other public space, should be made accessible to all journalists working in Rozaj.

We thank you for your attention.

Yours sincerely,

Oliver Vujovic
SEEMO Secretary General

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For any further information please contact:
SEEMO – IPI, Spiegelgasse 2/29, 1010 Vienna, Austria,
Tel (SEEMO+HELP LINE): +43 1 513 39 40, Tel (SEEMO): +43 1 512 90 11 11,
Fax: +43 1 512 90 15, E-mail: [email protected], Web: http://www.seemo.org