Don’t wait for a crisis to erupt: UN chief

UNITED NATIONS – UN Secretary General Kofi Annan says the international media should not wait for a full-blown crisis to highlight troubles in a country.

“We should not, by our action or inaction, by what we report or do not, send a message – especially to those countries and people in need who struggle along in good faith – that only widespread bloodshed or total dysfunction will get them attention and help,” Annan said in a message to mark World Press Freedom Day on Monday. “Just as it should not take the collapse of a state for the international community to act, so it should not take a full-fledged crisis to attract the media spotlight,” Annan added.Annan said conflict in northern Uganda and the Central African Republic deserved earlier international media attention.”The situation in Tajikistan is likewise scarcely reported, but perhaps for another reason:real progress is being made on the road to recovery and peace, although of course there remains much work to be done,” Annan said.But Annan opened his speech by saying:”World Press Freedom Day is first and foremost a day on which we remember and pay tribute to journalists who have been killed in the line of duty, or whose reporting has led to their imprisonment or detention.”- Nampa-AFP”Just as it should not take the collapse of a state for the international community to act, so it should not take a full-fledged crisis to attract the media spotlight,” Annan added.Annan said conflict in northern Uganda and the Central African Republic deserved earlier international media attention.”The situation in Tajikistan is likewise scarcely reported, but perhaps for another reason:real progress is being made on the road to recovery and peace, although of course there remains much work to be done,” Annan said.But Annan opened his speech by saying:”World Press Freedom Day is first and foremost a day on which we remember and pay tribute to journalists who have been killed in the line of duty, or whose reporting has led to their imprisonment or detention.”- Nampa-AFP