On 19 May, together with Javier Solana and Chris Patten, Bodo Hombach will address a meeting in Brussels focussed on the urgent needs of independent media in Serbia. Many regional media representatives intend to be present. The meeting has been organised in association with the International Federation of Journalists and the World Association of Newspapers.

An important function of the meeting will be – in the field of independent media - to complement and enhance existing concerted aid efforts to civil society in Serbia, in the framework of the Stability Pact for South Eastern Europe. The Szeged Process, a joint initiative of Special Co-ordinator Bodo Hombach and Hungary, launched in October 1999, has been an important vehicle for this, and will be an integral part of the 19 May meeting.

The recent actions of the Milosevic regime in raiding and closing down independent newspaper and broadcasting media organisations further emphasises the importance of the meeting, which was already in preparation before these most recent events occurred.

Speaking on his way back to Europe from a Japanese government sponsored Stability Pact conference in Tokyo, Bodo Hombach said that the actions of the Yugoslav authorities were unacceptable. "Independent media constitute a fundamental building block of a free society. The current Yugoslav regime has shown by its actions how far removed it is from respect for democratic principles. There can be a different future for the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. The Stability Pact spells that out. Our determination to help the independent media in Serbia is one important element in the effort to draw Yugoslavia into the European mainstream."

For organisational information about the 19 May meeting on independent media in Serbia, please contact the EU Council Press Service on +32 2-285 8704.