[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 87 (Friday, June 20, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1286]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


      MEETING OF THE COUNCIL OF FREELY ELECTED HEADS OF GOVERNMENT

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. BENJAMIN A. GILMAN

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, June 20, 1997

  Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, I was pleased recently to participate in 
this year's meeting of the Council of Freely Elected Heads of 
Government in Atlanta, GA. This meeting dealt with a number of 
important issues facing the Western Hemisphere, but I would like to 
focus the attention of my colleagues on one issue the conference 
addressed: The importance of freedom of the press.
  Freedom of speech and of the press is a basic American value. It is 
enshrined in the first amendment to our Constitution. As countries 
around the world struggle to achieve a transition to democracy, we must 
never forget the importance of this freedom. We must strive to protect 
and foster the rights of expression of peoples everywhere.
  It was in this spirit that the council endorsed a declaration on 
press freedom that was adopted on March 11, 1994, at the Hemisphere 
Conference on Free Speech held at Chapultepec Castle in Mexico City.
  Known as the Declaration of Chapultepec, it has been endorsed by news 
organizations and prominent leaders throughout the Western Hemisphere, 
including President Clinton.
  The Declaration describes the importance of a free press in a free 
society, and lays down 10 principles for ensuring the continuance of 
press freedom. It is only when individuals take responsibility for 
protecting their liberties that we can all be assured of the 
continuation of the freedoms that we cherish.
  I commend the Declaration to my colleagues and ask that it be printed 
in the Record at this point:

       No people or society can be free without freedom of 
     expression and of the press. The exercise of this freedom is 
     not something authorities grant, it is an inalienable right 
     of the people.
       Every person has the right to seek and receive information, 
     express opinions and disseminate them freely. No one may 
     restrict or deny these rights.
       The authorities must be compelled by law to make available 
     in a timely and reasonable manner the information generated 
     by the public sector. No journalist may be forced to reveal 
     his or her sources of information.
       Freedom of expression and of the press are severely limited 
     by murder, terrorism, kidnaping, intimidation, the unjust 
     imprisonment of journalists, the destruction of facilities, 
     violence of any kind and impunity for perpetrators. Such acts 
     must be investigated promptly and punished Harshly.
       Prior censorship, restrictions on the circulation of the 
     media or dissemination of their reports, arbitrary management 
     of information, the imposition of obstacles to the flow of 
     news, and restrictions on the activities and movements of 
     journalists directly contradict freedom of the press.
       The media and journalists should neither be discriminated 
     against nor favored because of what they write or say.
       Tariff and exchange policies, licenses for the importation 
     of paper or news-gathering equipment, the assigning of radio 
     and television frequencies and the granting or withdrawal of 
     government advertising may not be used to reward or punish 
     the media or individual journalists.
       The membership of journalists in guilds, their affiliation 
     to professional and trade associations and the affiliation of 
     the media with business groups must be strictly voluntary.
       The credibility of the press is linked to its commitment to 
     truth, to the pursuit of accuracy, fairness and objectivity 
     and to the clear distinction between news and advertising. 
     The attainment of these goals and the respect for ethical and 
     professional values may not be imposed. These are the 
     exclusive responsibility of journalists and the media. In a 
     free society, it is public opinion that rewards or punishes.
       No news medium nor journalist may be punished for 
     publishing the truth or criticizing or denouncing the 
     government.

     

                          ____________________