H. E. Vladimir Meciar
Prime Minister
Office of the Government of
the Slovak Republic
Bratislava
Slovakia
Vienna, 9 June 1997
Your Excellency,
The International Press Institute (IPI), the global network of editors and media executives from newspapers, magazines, broadcasting organisations and news agencies in 90 countries, is most concerned about the theft of essential operating equipment belonging to the first independent Slovak news agency, SITA.
We are informed that unidentified persons broke into the Bratislava headquarters of SITA (Slovak Information & News Agency) on Saturday, 7 June 1997, and stole several dozen computers, fax machines and photocopiers, as well as the agency’s satellite equipment. SITA had planned to begin test operating on 15 June and was to supply potential customers over the next two months with current political and economic news.
IPI urges Your Excellency to do your utmost to ensure that those responsible for this crime are brought to justice. We further urge that there is full public disclosure of the finding from the ongoing police investigation into this apparent act of sabotage, which is being closely followed by the international media community.
We thank you for your attention.
Yours sincerely,
Johann P. Fritz
Director