ZAGREB, May 2 (Hina) - On the occasion of World Press Freedom Day, May 3, Croatian President Stjepan Mesic on Thursday forwarded a message to the media and the public stressing, among else, that "freedom of the media and democracy are
inseparable".
ZAGREB, May 2 (Hina) - On the occasion of World Press Freedom Day,
May 3, Croatian President Stjepan Mesic on Thursday forwarded a
message to the media and the public stressing, among else, that
"freedom of the media and democracy are inseparable". #L#
"Democracy is the result of freedom of the media and vice-versa, and
the development of freedom of the media also develops democracy and
the individual's awareness that the one who is different or only
thinks differently should be listened to and heard, and not
antagonised," Mesic said in the message.
He added that freedom of the media was one of the prerequisites for
successfully combating terrorism. The roots of and fertile soil for
terrorism are found mainly in poor and undeveloped areas which are
dominated by controlled media, which means by controlled truth, he
said.
"The rapidity of Croatia's admission to the European Union will
depend, among else, on the level of media freedoms. It is,
therefore, in our interest that they develop so that Croatia might
reaffirm and achieve its basic goal as soon as possible. We should
not forget that democracy's maturity is measured also by freedom of
the media," read Mesic's message.
(hina) ha sb