The Forum, organised by the World Association of Newspapers and the An-Nahar newspaper, drew independent journalists from across the Arab world to Beirut, Lebanon, to address the challenges and opportunities facing Arab media. Several journalists who were scheduled to participate were prevented from traveling from Egypt, Tunisia, Qatar, Libya and Syria.

"Passports have not be renewed, previously acceptable travel documents have been disputed at the last moment, and the airlines have prevented passengers from boarding," said a statement from the Forum, which was held 9 and 10 December.

"It is impossible to escape the conclusion that the authorities in different countries are adopting a common strategy to use and abuse official procedures to obstruct events such as ours," said the group, which called on governments "to respect the right of Arab journalists to meet and speak freely at the public forum of their choice."

The full statement said:

"As delegates to and supporters of a conference of Arab journalists in Beirut to address the challenge and opportunities facing the Arab media, we wish to express our concern at the way that a number of invited individuals were prevented from participation in this important event.

"In nearly all cases the cited reason did not involve the application of a law but was the result of petty bureaucracy. In different cases, in different countries, passports have not been renewed, previously acceptable travel documents have been disputed at the last moment, and airlines have prevented passengers from boarding.

"In most cases it has been impossible to establish the precise reason why delegates have been denied their right to travel at the very last minute, usually at a border or at the check-in desk of an airline.

"But it is impossible to escape the conclusion that the authorities in different countries are adopting a common strategy to use and abuse official procedures to obstruct events such as ours.

"Unable to defend their actions under law, we believe the authorities are intimidating officials into achieving their aim by proxy - to prevent the free association and free exchange of ideas between independent Arab journalists.

"The right to free association and freedom of movement are fundamental human rights guaranteed by conventions that the nations of the Arab world have signed and ratified. These rights are no more or less fundamental than the right to freedom of expression.

"We call on governments and authorities everywhere to respect the right of Arab journalists to meet and speak freely in the public forum of their choice. In particular we call on public agencies to follow law and international regulations and not to allow their services to be unfairly manipulated or inappropriately abused.

Agreed: Delegates and supporters of the conference: Challenges & Opportunities for the Arab Press & Second Arab Free Press Forum, Beirut, Lebanon December 9-10 2007.

-This declaration will be followed up by a more detailed statement by WAN, Index on Censorship, OLPEC, other members of the International Freedom of Expression Exchange, and OSI calling on specific agencies including embassies and airlines to respect international conventions and standards in cases such as these.