THE HAGUE, 14/10/00 - Queen Beatrix will be present at the celebration of the 75th anniversary of the Foreign Press Association in the Netherlands. The celebration will take place in the Knight's Hall in The Hague.

Five years ago, a meeting between Crown Prince Willem Alexander and the foreign press had a somewhat unfortunate ending. A German journalist claimed after the meeting that the prince had spoken in favor of dropping the 5 May celebration, a report that was denied by other sources.

A visit by the Queen last year to the society of chief editors and a group of young journalists had also produced a fracas. Over-hasty talent reported that the sovereign had said of the press that "lying reigns". The context in which she had said that was not made clear. Since then, a television program has been launched under the title "Lies reign", in which journalists' behavior is held up to the light.

The Foreign Press Association was set up in the Netherlands on 14 November 1925 with 15 members. Today, this foreign correspondents' club has about 120 members from 38 countries.