Watson welcomes baptism of EP press room after Anna Politkovskaya

4.26.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Thu 5th Jun 2008

European flags (photography: Jackie Frost)

"Freedom of the press should not be taken for granted anywhere in the world. The risks associated with the media profession are real and so is our commitment to the readers, listeners and viewers of the world to uphold their right to truthful information by protecting the ones providing it. Today's baptism is a solemn pledge to deliver on our part of the deal" said European Liberal Democrat Leader Graham Watson.

Graham went on to comment;

"By naming the press room after Anna Politkovskaya, the European Parliament pays a small but important tribute to the courage of a great journalist, who was not afraid to search for the truth and denounce human rights violations in Russia, especially in Chechnya."

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Related Speeches:

Wed 11th Oct 2006:

Speech by Graham Watson MEP at the October I plenary session on the informal EU summit of Lahti, EU-Russian relations and the assassination of Russian journalist Anna Politkovskaïa.

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