IAPA renews invitation to Chávez, also asks Izarra to join its Caracas meeting
MIAMI, Florida (February 25, 2008)The Inter American Press Association (IAPA) today reiterated that it has issued an invitation to Venezuelas President Hugo Chávez to formally open its half-yearly meeting to be held in Caracas and was also inviting Communications Minister Andrés Izarra.
IAPA President Earl Maucker said he felt confident that the executive branch of the Venezuelan government would be represented and that our meeting will be a forum for discussion of free speech and press freedom, core values for society.
Maucker, editor and senior vice president of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, added, We will not only have an excellent opportunity to meet in that beautiful country to debate press freedom issues in the Americas but also to deal with other matters of importance to members of the press.
He said there will be panel discussions of such topics as financial, ethical and professional issues for journalists and others concerning traditional and alternative sources of energy and global warming.
The Midyear Meeting, which has the support of the Venezuelan Press Bloc, will be held March 28-30 at the Caracas Palace Hotel, located in the Altamira district of the Venezuelan capital.
