The World Association of Newspapers and Newspaper Publishers (WAN-IFRA) has called off the 63rd World Newspaper Congress and postponed the 17th World Editors Forum due to the failure of the Lebanese host organisation to meet its financial commitments. Both the events were scheduled to be held in Beirut from June 7 to 10.
“It is with immense disappointment that we are forced to call off our events in Beirut, but it was simply not possible to go ahead without the commitment of our Lebanese colleagues, who were responsible for security and other significant infrastructural and service expenses,” a WAN-IFRA release said, quoting its president Gavin O'Reilly.
Lebanese newspaper An-Nahar told WAN-IFRA it was unable to provide the agreed funds to host the meet owing to the 2009 financial and political crisis in the region.
