The International Federation of Journalist and its regional group, the European Federation of Journalists (EFJ), today condemned the “outrageous and unjustified attack” on working journalists by the Macedonian Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski.

“Mr. Gruevski’s declarations illustrate the lack of maturity in many political circles about the role and responsibility of media in European democracy," said the EFJ General Secretary Aidan White.

In an interview with the national press agency MIA, Mr. Gruevski suggested that journalists and others should put themselves in service of the state instead of “cheating the people” and “spreading false information,” targeting in particular four Brussels correspondents working for print and broadcast media.

“The Prime Minister is profoundly mistaken,” said White. “If they do that, they betray the cardinal principles of journalism and abandon the crucial role of watchdog that media must play to make democracy work.”

The EFJ urges Mr. Gruevski to withdraw from this confrontational and undemocratic approach. Responsible media and journalists are always ready to engage in serious dialogue about their responsibilities and the quality of their work -- but they can never give in to political bullying.

The German media group Westdeutsche Allgemeine Zeitung Gruppe (WAZ), which owns three newspapers in Macedonia, will also publish a statement condemning the Prime Ministers’ remarks.

Journalists and publishers fears that these intemperate comments will put journalists at risk.

Political petulance of this kind will not solve Macedonia's problems within the region and internally; if anything, it will only make matters much worse.

For more information contact the EFJ at +32 2 235 2200

The EFJ represents over 250,000 journalists in over 30 countries