VIENNA, Feb. 27, 2012 - The Vienna-based South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO), an affiliate of the International Press Institute (IPI), will, in cooperation with different partners, expand a number of press freedom websites dedicated to monitoring media developments in specific countries. Currently, SEEMO runs websites on press freedom issues in Belarus, Hungary, Macedonia and Turkey. Due to the success of the already-existing websites, SEEMO will create press freedom websites dedicated to Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Cyprus, Greece, Kosovo, Moldova, Montenegro, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Serbia and Ukraine. SEEMO, together with IPI, monitors media developments in all the above-mentioned countries and territories. The web project is expected to be completed by September 2012. Country-specific websites contain an array of information sources in English: news, exclusive monthly reports, legal and political analyses, and local and international initiatives in support of press freedom. They follow political events and debates in each country and include links to information and analysis from governments, as well as human rights organisations specialised in press freedom. Further, they include links to media coverage, expert opinions, press-freedom mission reports and other updated information drawn up by SEEMO, governments, and multilateral, professional and human rights organisations focused on press freedom. SEEMO's country-specific websites are designed for specialists and a public at large interested in acquiring updated and in-depth knowledge of media issues and press freedom. "I am happy that the SEEMO websites have generated such high interest, said SEEMO Secretary General Oliver Vujovic. "This indicates that there is a need to have comprehensive information in one place."

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