Concern over attack against Cyprus daily

VIENNA, 25 May 2001 (OSCE) - Freimut Duve, the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, is very much concerned about a recent attack against the independent daily newspaper 'Avrupa' in the northern part of Cyprus. As a result of a bomb explosion on 24 May, the newspaper's offices were badly damaged. There were no casualties.

"I believe that this attack is a very serious matter and I expect the authorities in northern Cyprus to conduct a through investigation and to bring the perpetrators to justice", Duve said.

Avrupa is a newspaper that has previously suffered from harassment by the local authorities. The Representative on Freedom of the Media has raised the case of the daily publicly in a statement issued on 18 May 2000. He will continue to follow the situation regarding Avrupa very closely.

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For further information please contact the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, tel. +43-1-512 21 45 - 0, fax +43-1-512 21 45 - 9, e-mail: pm-fom@osce.