The President of Ukraine Invited 2012 World Newspaper Congress to be Held During Euro 2012 Championship

KIEV, Ukraine, October 30, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- The President of Ukraine Viktor Yanukovych invited the 2012 World Newspaper Congress, conducted under the aegis of the World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers (WAN-IFRA), to be held in Ukraine. The invitation was extended during a meeting with the CEO of WAN Cristoph Riess who is on his two-day visit in Ukraine.

"Hosting the World Newspaper Congress in Kyiv will contribute to the strengthening of the freedom of speech and democracy and to the affirmation of Ukraine as a democratic country", the Ukrainian President noted at the meeting.

Speaking on combining the Congress with EURO 2012, Viktor Yanukovych added: "By this time all the necessary infrastructures will be introduced and well-developed. It is important that the World Newspaper Congress will be held in Kyiv", he said.

In his turn, Critopher Riess said that during the 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 few years," he said.

He stressed that the Congress represents all media around the world and will gather nearly a thousand participants from 80 countries-members of WAN-IFRA. The event is widely covered in the media worldwide and draws much attention to the hosting country. Mr. Reiss also stated that the Congress provides a powerful impetus for the development of the publishing sector.

The Head of WAN-IFRA supported the suggestion of Mr. Yanukovych to hold the congress during the European Football Championship: "We are also interested in merging in some ways the Congress and EURO 2012 because it would create unique media coverage opportunities for both events".

World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers is a non-profit organization, which was created in 1948. It is composed of 78 national associations from over 120 countries and represents over 18 thousands of newspapers all over the world. WAN-IFRA has a status of an official consultant, which represents the interests of newspaper industry in UNESCO, United Nations and European Council. One of the major tasks of WAN-IFRA is protection and promotion of economic independence of the newspapers.

SOURCE Press Office of the President of Ukraine