Greece denies entry to Macedonian journalists

A regional media organization has today criticized Greece over a border incident involving Macedonian journalists. The Vienna-based South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) said in a letter today sent to the top Greek officials that it "expresses its concern after the Greek authorities denied a group of journalists from the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (Republic of Macedonia) entry into the country". Greece denies entry to Macedonian journalists On 19 July, journalists from TV A1, TV A2, Forum and Makedonsko Sonce were on their way to report on a cultural event in northern Greece, and were bearing standard passports with regular Greek visas, the letter continued. "However, at the border the journalists were denied entry with the explanation that they did not have the permission of the Greek government to report on the event. One journalist from Forum was denied entry although he had a journalist's visa." "An offer to enter Greece as non-journalists, without their cameras and other technical equipment, was declined by the journalists. They were also told they could enter the country as journalists after the cultural event was over", SEEMO, a network of editors, media executives and leading journalists from South East Europe, said. The organization condemned this move by the Greek authorities, reminding that Greece is a member of the European Union, "and expected to uphold the right to press freedom, one of the pillars of democracy". "Decisions like this prevent the ability of journalists to work freely and hinder the free flow of information," the letter concluded, and urged Greek leadership to do everything in their power "to ensure that cases like this do not happen in the future".

Greece denies entry to Macedonian journalists

On 19 July, journalists from TV A1, TV A2, Forum and Makedonsko Sonce were on their way to report on a cultural event in northern Greece, and were bearing standard passports with regular Greek visas, the letter continued.

"However, at the border the journalists were denied entry with the explanation that they did not have the permission of the Greek government to report on the event. One journalist from Forum was denied entry although he had a journalist's visa."

"An offer to enter Greece as non-journalists, without their cameras and other technical equipment, was declined by the journalists. They were also told they could enter the country as journalists after the cultural event was over", SEEMO, a network of editors, media executives and leading journalists from South East Europe, said.

The organization condemned this move by the Greek authorities, reminding that Greece is a member of the European Union, "and expected to uphold the right to press freedom, one of the pillars of democracy".

"Decisions like this prevent the ability of journalists to work freely and hinder the free flow of information," the letter concluded, and urged Greek leadership to do everything in their power "to ensure that cases like this do not happen in the future".