Brussels Declaration by European media editors in support of journalists kidnapped in Iraq by Kevin

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We, editorial directors of European media, express
our support for Florence Aubenas, special
correspondent for the French daily newspaper
Libération, and her Iraqi guide Hussein Hanoun,
kidnapped in Iraq on 5 January 2005 as well as reporter
Mari Jeanne Ion and cameraman Sorin Dumitru
Miscoci of the Romanian television station, Prima TV,
and Eduard Ovidiu Ohanesian of the privately-owned
daily newspaper, Romania Libera.

We reaffirm that there can be no freedom without the
freedom to inform the public, everywhere and in every
place. This freedom is a fundamental right that every
one of us should work to defend and promote. In
addition, we call on all European institutions and
member countries of the Union, to redouble their efforts
for the two hostages. And, more than that, that they
make themselves active defenders of press freedom,
without which democracy cannot function.

Today, Florence Aubenas, Hussein Hanoun, Mari
Jeanne Ion, Sorin Dumitru Miscoci and Eduard Ovidiu
Ohanesian need all of us.”

Almost 200 European editors and senior news
executives have signed this statement to date.

Libération
The World Association of Newspapers
The World Editors Forum
Reporters Without Borders.

For further information go to www.rsf.org or www.editorsweblog.org