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PRESS RELEASE
LAUNCH OF NEW DATABASE OF NGOs AND EXPERTS WORKING TOWARDS RECONCILIATION IN SE EUROPE

http://www.see-database.org

The Stability Pact for South-Eastern Europe and the Center for Democracy and Reconciliation in South East Europe (CDRSEE) are pleased to announce the launch of their database for non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and experts, which work towards reconciliation in Southeast Europe. The database has already more than 300 entries and it is going to be constantly updated and expanded.

Included in the database are NGOs that work in the areas of economics, democratisation, human rights, politics, education, arts & culture, media, youth, gender equality and inter-religious dialogue, and aim to promote reconciliation and cross-border understanding through these thematic areas. The database is also focused on the area of the Western Balkans (Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, FYR of Macedonia, Serbia & Montenegro, including Kosovo), an area which has lately been the focus on the international community.

The database is searchable in many categories and has the capability of a mass mailing option, configured by different criteria, with the potential to serve as a disseminator of news and ideas to all relevant actors. Interested NGOs can submit or update their information online and also advertise any internship or employment positions they have available. Last but not least, in the links section, other relevant databases are listed.

The database can be an effective tool in support of NGOs and donors as a starting page for searching for project partners, or funding a programme. It can help to avoid duplications and identify possible gaps in the work of the civil society in the region. It will also provide a good reference and the increased ability for sound strategic planning for reconciliation and post-conflict development in SE Europe.

The database is part of the "Reconciling for the Future" project which is a long term initiative to facilitate creative dialogue, identify a common set of values, and enhance the synergies between local NGOs which contribute to the reconciliation process in the Western Balkans. This programme is under the aegis of the Hellenic Presidency of the European Union, co-organised with the Stability Pact for South East Europe, and is supported by the Foreign Ministries of Greece, Norway, Canada and Sweden.

http://www.see-database.org

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Washington, D.C. - November 21, 2002 - The Board of Directors of the Romanian-American Chamber of Commerce today issued a statement of praise for the efforts of the Romanian Government in securing an invitation to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization at the Alliance’s Summit in Prague.
RACC Chairman, Mark A. Meyer, a member of the Wall Street law firm of Herzfeld & Rubin, PC, and the Bucharest law firm of Rubin Meyer Doru & Trandafir, speaking for the Board, stated:
“The Romanian-American Chamber of Commerce congratulates the people and government of Romania in securing an invitation to join NATO. We pledge to you our efforts to secure rapid ratification of Romania’s accession to NATO in the United States Senate. To accomplish this, we strongly urge the Romanian government to bring a speedy conclusion to the unfortunate commercial disputes with American investors that have harmed Romania’s image in the United States and could cause delay in the US Senate, as well as embarrassment to Romania’s American friends, unless promptly resolved. We also suggest that the Romanian government redouble its efforts to stem corruption, speed up privatization, improve restitution for the victims of communist-era confiscations, and reform the judiciary.
“The gifted diplomacy of Foreign Minister Mircea Geoana and his colleagues in the Foreign Ministry, matched with the skill of Defense Minister Ioan Mircea Pascu and the leadership of the Romanian Armed Services, were essential to Romania’s success in Prague. Orchestrating these efforts was a determined President Ion Iliescu and Prime Minister Adrian Nastase, who have guided the nation towards NATO membership. Of course, the accomplishment in Prague was the result of a fusion of efforts by the entirety of Romanian society — its current and former governments, former President Constantinescu, King Mihai I, the Romanian Diaspora and, most of all, the Romanian people in their determination to cast off the past and secure the future.”
The Romanian-American Chamber of Commerce is the largest bilateral trade and investment organization in the world devoted to the promotion of economic links with Romania.
Contact: In Washington, D.C.: Jay McCrensky, Managing Director, RACC
(301) 656-9022; assocmail@aol.com 

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A project idea related to the following is being developed for the
Minerva action and the coordinator is looking for Partners:-
Proposal:  Audiovisual Bank of European Television and radio product.
European Radio and television stations will deposit their best product which they want to retain for posterity. Access to the product by the general public will be  through internet. All works will be translated
in all the European Languages.
Thanks and Regards to all.
Claudine Dalmas
Socrates Office, Room 105 Administration Building, University of Malta,
Msida MSD06
Malta. Tel/Fax:323807  Website: http://home.um.edu.mt/socrates/

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ARTICLE 19 and NGOs from South East Europe seek guarantees from the EU and NATO on freedom of expression.
On 19th and 20th March, a group of non - governmental organisations campaigning for freedom of expression in South East Europe will visit Brussels to raise key concerns with Commission officials, MEPs and NATO.
This initiative is part of an EU funded project involving NGOs from Romania, Bulgaria, Montenegro and Albania in partnership with ARTICLE 19, the global campaign for free expression. The project partners are campaigning to achieve legal reform to guarantee the public's right to know and the right to speak, in a region which is emerging from years of secretive and closed government. The objective of the visit to Brussels is to ensure that the European Commission and Parliament pay adequate attention to freedom of expression when considering the progress made by these countries towards democracy and the rule of law  - and eventual accession to the EU.
The Right to Speak
In Montenegro, Albania and Romania, journalists continue to face prison sentences and high fines if found guilty of libel or insult. Defamation suits are commonly brought by public officials against journalists to stifle legitimate inquiry and criticism.   The imposition of custodial penalties for the crime of defamation is disproportionate and acts as a chilling effect on journalists seeking to expose corruption and wrongdoing in political and public life. ARTICLE 19 and its partners urge the governments concerned to abolish criminal defamation and rely instead on civil remedies.
The Right to Know
In Bulgaria and Romania, the recent adoption of Freedom of Information Acts has laid the foundations for guaranteeing access to information of public interest held by  government and public agencies. However, draft laws on classified information, currently under discussion in each
country, threaten to undermine the development of a culture of openness and transparency.
NATO's role in advising aspirant member countries on the standards to be adopted in such legislation is controversial. The NATO document, C-M (55) 15 (Final), which defines policy and standards for the protection of classified information, is itself secret.
ARTICLE 19 and its partners urge governments drafting such legislation to guarantee maximum possible freedom of expression and information, as required under international law, while aiming for narrow definitions in order to protect legitimate interests such as national security. Furthermore, ARTICLE 19 seeks reassurance from NATO that the requirements made of countries wishing to join the alliance do not contradict international standards on freedom of expression.

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ESA defines deal on greater eastern European cooperation

Record Control Number : 17441
Date : 2001-10-05
Category :  General policy
General Information :
  The European Space Agency (ESA)  has drawn up a new agreement which  will allow greater participation of four eastern European countries in ESA programmes.
The deal with the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Romania aims  to stimulate relations with interested European countries, enrich ESA research and development and expand Europe's scientific and industrial base.
The four countries have been designated as European Cooperating States (ECS)  under the ESA's new ECS Agreement. The deal will allow each country, which must already have signed a framework agreement with the ESA, greater participation in all ESA activities and procurements. The terms of each country's participation will be defined by a five year plan jointly agreed with the ESA.
ESA programme manager Henk Olthof said the programme 'creates a natural extension of the existing very fruitful collaboration and allows the four countries to participate in all agency programmes and enables the ESA to benefit from their expertise.'
In September this year, ESA held a workshop in Paris with the four ECS. Mr Olthof said: 'The objective of the workshop was to present the different possibilities existing through this newly-created ECS status and to understand the different views and possible concerns of our partners.' The ESA first established relations with the four participating countries in the early 1990s when they wanted to discuss space programme collaboration. The joint cooperation projects which ensued led to the signing of framework agreements with ESA.
As a result of this collaboration, the Czech Republic and Hungary both participate in the ESA's PRODEX (scientific experiment developing)  programme. The scheme aims to improve relations between the scientific and industrial communities in participating states and fund industrial development of academic science research.
The definition of the future deal signifies the beginning of further with the ECS. The deal is expected to be signed within two years.
Data Source Provider : ESA
Document Reference : Based on information provided by the ESA
Subject Index Codes : Aerospace Technology, Coordination, Cooperation
Contact Person : For further information, please consult the following web address: http://www.esa.org

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SEEM Press Release
Vienna, 25 September 2001
SEEMO Announces Media Award for Better Understanding

The South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) is pleased to announce the SEEMO Award for Better Understanding.
Sponsored by the City of Vienna, the 2.000- EUR award will be given to a journalist, editor or media executive in South East Europe, who, through the media, has promoted a climate of better understanding among peoples and worked toward ending minority problems, ethnic divisions, racism, xenophobia, etc.
If you know of any person who would be a worthy recipient of the SEEMO Award for Better Understanding, please contact SEEMO at:
South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO)
SEEMO-IPI, Spiegelgasse 2/29
A-1010 Vienna
Austria
Tel:  + 43 1 513 39 40, Fax: + 43 1 512 90 15
E-mail: seemo@freemedia.at
http://www.freemedia.at/seemo
The deadline for applications for the SEEMO Award for Better Understanding is: 1 February 2002.
SEEMO is a regional network of  editors, media executives and leading journalists from newspapers, magazines, radio, TV, internet, new media and news agencies in the South Eastern European Region. The network draws on a membership from the following countries: Albania, Bosnia, Bulgaria, Croatia, FR Yugoslavia (Serbia, Montenegro, Kosovo/Kosova), Greece, Macedonia (FYROM), Moldova and Romania.