Brussels   —  Special Co-ordinator of the Stability Pact for South Eastern Europe Erhard Busek today (19 March) condemned the recent storming of the editorial offices of two Bulgarian media organisations and threats made to the journalists and editors of 24 hours daily and 168 hours weekly by members of ATAKA party.

In an open letter sent to the Speaker of the Bulgarian Parliament Georgi Pirinski, Mr Busek expressed his “serious concern about the events of 23 February 2007” when a mob led by ATAKA leader Volen Siderov, his deputy Pavel Shopov and Dimitar Stojanov, Bulgarian MP and Member of the European Parliament, allegedly threatened, humiliated and verbally abused journalists and editors from both newspapers.

“I seriously condemn such behaviour…  The fact that some Bulgarian parliamentarians reportedly participated in this violent act against journalists is a cause for additional concern.  With Bulgaria's recent entry into the European Union and its fundamental role in the processes of regional co-operation in South Eastern Europe, your country holds a specific responsibility towards future members and the region in particular,” Special Co-ordinator Busek wrote in a letter.

“I ask you to use all your institutional and political authority to ensure an appropriate response to such an incident. Such unfortunate events must be thoroughly investigated and sanctioned”, Mr Busek said.

Open Letter to Mr Pirinski, Speaker of the Bulgarian Parliament

Additional information can be obtained from the South Eastern Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO):

http://www.seemo.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=66&Itemid=66

For further information, please contact Stability Pact's Spokesperson
Mr Dragan Barbutovski at the SP Secretariat in Brussels
(Tel: +32 2 401 87 25 or press@stabilitypact.org).
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PR2007/003