Paris, 9 May {No.2000-46} - UNESCO Director-General Koïchiro Matsuura today condemned the murder of Josée Luis Lopez de Lacalle, journalist for the spanish daily newspaper El Mundo, and founder of the Ermua Forum, a Basque association opposed to political violence. "The killing of José Luis Lopez de Lacalle is an attack against freedom of expression and peace," he declared.

Koïchiro Matsuura spoke in reaction to the killing, which the Spanish authorities have attributed to the group ETA : "Just a few days after the celebration of Press Freedom Day, a journalist has been killed," he said."This despicable crime affects us all. The killing of Jose Luis Lopez de Lacalle is an attack against freedom of expression and peace. I condemn with the utmost severity the violence and intimidation inflicted on journalists within a democratic country."

The UNESCO Director-General continued : "In the face of such a crime, UNESCO reaffirms its commitment to freedom of expression, and calls for article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, guaranteeing the right of each individual to receive and impart information and ideas, to be respected."

"The exercise of free speech is a fundamental human right. It is the basis for every modern and democratic society. When a journalist can no longer exercise his or her profession without fearing for his or her life, democracy and the rule of law are threatened," Mr. Matsuura added.