March 24

Venezuelan govn't claims to be the target of a "media war"
Communication and Information Minister Andrés Izarra Monday said international media are waging "a war" against President Hugo Chávez's government, as they intend to feature the Venezuelan ruler as a leader "opposed" to freedom of expression, DPA reported.

According to Izarra, some international media are trying to lay a "media siege" to Chávez.

"A media war is under way here, we cannot be naive about that," the Minister said in an interview with official television channel VTV.

Further, he denied reports that local news television network would be shut down in retaliation for its editorial stance against Chávez' government. Such claims were made by the Inter-American Press Association (IAPA), which is holding a meeting next March 28-31 in Caracas.

March 25

IAPA to assess press freedom in Venezuela, Cuba, and Bolivia
The Inter-American Press Association (IAPA) next March 28-30 is holding its half-yearly meeting in Caracas to assess both the breakthroughs and regressions of press freedom in the hemisphere, particularly in Cuba, Bolivia, and Venezuela, IAPA sources said.

IAPA executive director Julio Muñoz told Efe that during the meeting in the Venezuelan capital city they are to voice concern about the situation facing the countries where the press media are under threats and "certain" attacks.

"Obviously, we are going to delve into the situations facing each of the countries. Over the last few years, attention has focused on Cuba, where a number of reporters are in jail," Muñoz stressed.

March 26

Saca praises IAPA's role in the hemisphere
El Salvador's President Elías Antonio Saca said the Inter-American Press Association (IAPA) is making a "praiseworthy" work, and downplayed the expression "media terrorism," claiming it was not applicable to the news media in the hemisphere, Efe reported.
"I would like to say that in the case of the Inter-American Press Association I do believe they are making a praiseworthy work," Saca replied when asked about the half-yearly meeting the IAPA is holding next March 28-30 in Caracas and the forum on "media terrorism" -sponsored by the Venezuelan government- which is taking place in parallel to the IAPA meeting.

The forum against "media terrorism" was announced by President Hugo Chávez, who believes that "it is necessary to address issues like this, as the media terrorism is using the media -radio, newspapers, and television- to foster war, violence, fear, and anxiety among the peoples."

March 27

IAPA to assess press freedom in the hemisphere
The Inter-American Press Association (IAPA), which comprises the news media in the hemisphere, is holding is half-yearly meeting in Caracas on March 28-30, amidst tensions with the Venezuelan government.

A few feet away from the venue where the IAPA meeting is taking place, a forum against "media terrorism" -endorsed by Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez, an outspoken critic of the largest organization of newspapers in the American continent- will be held simultaneously.

While clear signals have sent that they are not welcomed, around 300 directors, editors and reporters are to attend the IAPA meeting.
 
The secretary general of the Venezuelan Press Bloc and coordinator of the half-yearly meeting in Caracas, Luisa Chiossone, said the IAPA expects to delve into the situation of press freedom in the hemisphere, reports about impunity in killings of reporters and about press freedom in Cuba, DPA informed.

Chávez predicts the IAPA is to condemn Venezuela
Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez, when asked about the half-yearly meeting of the Inter-American Press Association (IAPA) to be held March 28-30 in Caracas, commented, "They will surely launch a condemnation from Caracas against us for violating freedom of expression."
 
"They claim we have a dictatorship. But they are in Caracas saying whatever they want to say. This is cynicism turned into communication. There are very powerful forces trying to prevent our union," said Chávez.
 
The Venezuelan ruler stated that in parallel to the IAPA meeting, a forum would be held in Caracas to reject what he branded as "media terrorism."

"I have been invited to both meetings. I do not know whether I will go. I have so many items in my agenda. Yet a serious debate is taking place there in connection with democracy and freedom of thought," added Chávez.

March 28

"The IAPA is here to advocate the society's rights"
The half-yearly meeting of the Inter-American Press Association is taking place in Caracas on March 28-30, with more than 300 newspaper editors of the hemisphere attending the encounter.

IAPA's regional vice-president for Venezuela, David Natera, said the delegates came to Venezuela in order "to advocate the rights of all the peoples in the hemisphere," particularly the rights to freedom of press and expression.

"I am very happy with the high turnout. Editors have proven consistent in their commitment to freedom of expression, even though early reports did not predict much safety or a friendly environment," Natera stressed.

Izarra suggests an Inter-American Association to fight "media terrorism"
Venezuelan Communication and Information Minister Andrés Izarra Friday advocated the need to organize an Inter-American Association "against media terrorism."

Izarra made the proposal after he opened the Latin American meeting against media terrorism, which is taking place in the Rómulo Gallegos Latin American Studies Center, in Caracas.

Delegates and experts in communication from more than 14 countries in the region are attending the meeting until March 30.

According to Izarra, the privately owned news media are the spearhead of the empire's media terrorism. "The power of the news media is so big the US imperialist government no longer uses them as a supplement mechanism to overthrow progressive governments in Latin America, but as major players to destabilize nations through media terrorism and psychological warfare."

Journalism seriously curtailed in Venezuela
Jorge Fascetto, a member of the Inter-American Press Association (IAPA) and representative of Argentinean Diario Popular newspaper, Friday claimed that journalism in Venezuela is exercised under "serious restrictions."

He stressed that the organization is implementing new monitoring mechanisms to oversee and assess the news media situation in countries facing the same issues as Venezuela.

"We did not use to visit the countries. We did not visit the countries lacking press freedom. But now we have changed our minds. We are visiting the countries facing problems, in order to support the countries where persecutions are taking place, such as Venezuela. In Venezuela, we witnessed the closure of a TV channel not long ago, as well as continued persecution against reporters," Fascetto stated.

IAPA questions seven Latin American presidents
The Inter-American Press Association (IAPA) Friday opened its half-yearly meeting in Caracas by criticizing the presidents of seven countries, accusing them of "making efforts to undermine" journalists' credibility.

The presidents of Paraguay, Uruguay, Honduras, Ecuador, Bolivia, Nicaragua, and Venezuela "are doing their best to attack the press media with a goal to undermine their credibility, which in the long run is the major asset" of the profession, said Gonzalo Marroquín, chairman of the Committee on Freedom of Press and Information of the IAPA, during the opening session.

"Attempts at silencing reporters involve not only murder, threats, harassing or imprisonment," said Marroquín in questioning the presidents' rhetoric against reporters, quoted Efe.