The Republic of Macedonia / Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia appears to be sliding towards a tightly controlled media environment, the Vienna-based South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) said today.
SEEMO, a subsidiary of the International Press Institute (IPI), said it has observed a steady trend towards increasing pressure on journalists and that reporters are subject to pressure from different sources.
On Feb. 16, 2012, a TV crew from the Albanian-language broadcaster Alsat M was the only television crew to be prevented from filming an official meeting between the leader of the Islamic Religious Community in Macedonia, Sulejman Rexhepi, and the Albanian ambassador in Skopje, Arben Cejku.
On Feb. 17, 2012, the city council in the municipality of Karpos decided that journalists could not follow the entire session. Journalists were expelled when deliberations focused on the local budget.
“I see a worrying tendency to curb press freedom through different types of pressure,” SEEMO Secretary General Oliver Vujovic said. “I call on the authorities – both national and local – to stop exerting pressure on media and to, instead, show that the country is committed to following international standards.”
SEEMO in November 2011 issued a report on press freedom in Macedonia.