ZAGREB, Sept 6 (Hina) - The Croatian Journalists' Association (HND) and the Croatian Journalists' Union (SNH) harshly protest against the Yugoslav authorities' treatment of a Belgrade correspondent of a Croatian newspaper who is being
prevented from returning to Belgrade from Croatia. The HND and the SNH seek help and intervention from international journalists' organisations having in mind that in Yugoslavia there is a 'black list' with the names of about a dozen foreign correspondents who are personae non grate and share or will share the same fate as the Croatian reporter.
ZAGREB, Sept 6 (Hina) - The Croatian Journalists' Association (HND)
and the Croatian Journalists' Union (SNH) harshly protest against
the Yugoslav authorities' treatment of a Belgrade correspondent of
a Croatian newspaper who is being prevented from returning to
Belgrade from Croatia.
The HND and the SNH seek help and intervention from international
journalists' organisations having in mind that in Yugoslavia there
is a 'black list' with the names of about a dozen foreign
correspondents who are personae non grate and share or will share
the same fate as the Croatian reporter. #L#
According to a joint statement issued by the HND and the SNH on
Monday, on June 30 Yugoslav authorities returned Davor Kriska, a
correspondent with "Slobodna Dalmacija" daily, from the border and
banned his entrance into the FRY without any explanation, although
Kriska had a regular working and residence permit in his passport,
with the expiry date of 23 July.
There was no reply to a protest note which the Croatian Foreign
Ministry forwarded to the Yugoslav Embassy in Zagreb.
Similarly unsuccessful were interventions by the Croatian Embassy
with the Yugoslav Ministry of Foreign Affairs, whereas the
'Slobodna Dalmacija' correspondent received a negative verbal
reply. In mid-July Kriska requested a new visa from Yugoslav
authorities, but has received neither the visa nor a reply. There
are no indications that the problem could be solved in the near
future, the statement said.
"With this uncalled-for act, the FRY has once again proved that it
belongs among undemocratic countries, obstructing the free flow of
information, and, without any reason, denying journalists one of
the basic human rights - the right to work", the HND and the SNH
said. The two organisations also said that a reporter with
'Vjesnik' daily, Vesna Fabris Perunicic, was also being prevented
from performing her duties as correspondent whereas a dozen
Yugoslav reporters are working freely and without any problems in
Croatia.
(hina) jn ms rml