prijava
VIENNA, December 14 (FENA) - The European Alliance of News Agencies (EANA) has expressed concern in an open letter to Slovenian Prime Minister Janez Janša about blocking the money provided by law to finance the Slovenian news agency STA.
“Unfortunately, the agency has found itself in a precarious position due to the suspension of financing of its public service. This jeopardizes the continuance of its operation as well as its very existence,” EANA said in the open letter.
The letter emphasizes the importance of the freedom of media from any political involvement. EANA, as it is stated, believes in the total and open democracy governing Slovenia, the country's government, and the actions of the Prime Minister.
“In this context, EANA joins yesterday's call by the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Dunja Mijatović, urging the Government of the Republic of Slovenia to immediately secure funding for the STA.
Furthermore, observing the publicly released legal opinion of the Government Office for Legislation and a separate legal opinion commissioned by STA, the suspension of financing for the agency and its public service is clearly unjustified,” it is stated in the letter.
EANA states that it conducted an analysis of the facts, saying that the suspension of financing could only be explained as a form of pressure on the independence of the STA.
“(Such) conduct … is unacceptable and which the Alliance condemns, if this is the case, as it goes against the core values of our Alliance, and, even more so, it goes against the founding principles of democratic societies,” EANA stresses in the letter.
Therefore, it urges the Slovenian PM to act in accordance with and in the spirit of the value of the function entrusted to him by the people of Slovenia and to continue the financing of the STA.
“EANA is ready to discuss best practices with the Slovenian government so that we reach a common understanding and final decision favorable to our member, STA, and to the Republic of Slovenia,” EANA concludes in the open letter addressed to the Slovenian Prime Minister Janez Janša.
(FENA) L. N.
