29.10.2010 12:28
Press office of President Viktor Yanukovych

President meets CEO of World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers

President of Ukraine Viktor Yanukovych met with Christoph Riess, Chief Executive Officer of the World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers (WAN).

Welcoming the guest in Ukraine, the President reiterated his earlier invitation to the WAN to hold the World Newspaper Congress in Kyiv in 2012. "It is important that it was held in Kyiv," Viktor Yanukovych said. He reminded that in 2012 Ukraine will be hosting the finals of EURO 2012, therefore all the necessary hotel, transport and exhibition infrastructure will be ready.

"Conducting this very important forum in Kyiv will be the evidence that the state is attractive for free journalists and media,” he said.

Viktor Yanukovych stressed the importance of development of the information market for Ukraine. "It is also the path of democracy and freedom development. For Ukraine, it is its establishment as a democratic state," he said. The President said the Ukrainian side is interested in any investments in this direction.

From his part, the WAN CEO thanked the Ukrainian President for his invitation to hold the World Newspaper Congress in Kyiv.

He stressed that the Congress is a platform, where the media from around the whole world are represented. The Congress will gather nearly a thousand of participants from 80 countries, who are members of the Association. Christoph Riess also noted that the forum is interesting in terms of its extremely wide coverage in the media worldwide, including the country that hosts it. He also noted that often leaders from different countries attend the opening of the Congress.

"This event provides a powerful impetus for development of the publishing sector," Christoph Riess said.

The WAN CEO said that during two days of his stay in Ukraine, he has examined the existing infrastructure. "We have a very positive impression of what is possible today and what will be possible in a few years," he said.

"We are also interested in merging in some way the Congress and EURO 2012 because it would give the opportunity of covering both the championship, and the Congress in the media," Christoph Riess said.


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