Six organizations are asking news media around the world to publicize the fourth anniversary of Terry Anderson's kidnapping on Thursday. ``Today, March 16, 1989, the American journalist Terry Anderson, 41, chief Middle East correspondent for The Associated Press in Beirut, entered his fifth year of captivity as a hostage in Lebanon,'' said a statement that the groups asked broadcasters to air and newspapers to use on their front pages. The ``statement of solidarity with Anderson'' is from ``the leading freedom of expression organizations in the Western world,'' Anne Nelson, executive director of the New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists, said Monday. Ms. Nelson said she also will read the statement Thursday at the National Press Club in Washington during a news conference announcing her group's ``annual attacks-on-the-press report.'' A speech by Vice President Dan Quayle on freedom of the press is scheduled at the Press Club later Thursday. ``We call on President Bush and Vice President Quayle to use every possible means at their disposal to bring Terry Anderson and the other hostages home,'' Ms. Nelson said. Other organizations urging publication of the anniversary statement are: Article 19 of London; International Federation of Publishers in Paris; the International Federation of Journalists in Brussels; Index on Censorship in London; and Observatoire de L'Information in France. In a separate letter to its members, the 150,000-member International Federation of Journalists said: ``On March 16, another shameful date in the calendar passes _ the fourth anniversary of captivity for American journalist Terry Anderson, who is held hostage in Beirut.'' The IFJ asked its members in 37 nations to draw attention to the plight of British journalist John McCarthy, who marked his 1,000th day of captivity on Jan. 10. The IFJ said it will place advertisements in Beirut newspapers to urge the release of all hostages. IFJ members also were urged to send letters requesting diplomatic initiatives to the ambassadors of the United States, the United Kingdom, Syria and Iran and to ``publicize the plight of the journalists'' in union journals and national media. In London, IFJ Secretary General Aidan White will be accompanied by McCarthy's girlfriend, Gill Morell, and several trade union leaders when they meet with U.S. Embassy officials. Elsewhere, Charles Dale, the president of the Newspaper Guild of the United States and Canada, will lead a delegation to the U.S. State Department in Washington on Thursday. In Strasbourg, France, Doornaert and French journalist Jean-Paul Kauffmann, a former hostage in Lebanon, will meet with European Parliament leaders to press for the hostages' release.
On March 16 , 1989 , Terry Anderson entered his fifth year of captivity as a hostage in Lebanon , according to Anne Nelson , executive director of the New York - based Committee to Protect Journalists . Ms. Nelson read her statement at the National Press Club in Washington , D.C. , where Vice President Dan Rather was scheduled to give a speech . " We call on President Bush and Vice President Quayle to use every possible means to bring Terry Anderson and the other hostages home , " Ms. Nelson said . The International Federation of Journalists said it would place advertisements in Beirut newspapers to urge the release of all hostages .