European Forum

Macedonian journalists condemn statement on ‘name row’ of President Ivanov

Macedonia's Journalist’s Association, ZNM, condemned today President Georgi Ivanov’s recent attack on local journalists, accusing him of attempting to ''discipline'' journalists. Ivanov two days ago (19 January) accused journalists of spreading speculations regarding the on-going name dispute with Greece, that Athens could use to its advantage.

Ivanov told media Greece is using Macedonian journalists’ reports to support its case at the Hague-based International Court of Justic (ICJ) where it is being sued for its refusal to unblock Macedonia's NATO accession. He said this approximately at the same time when Greece presented its memorandum containing its counter arguments to the Macedonian suit at the ICJ.

Attempt to divide journalists
“This is an attempt to discipline journalists,” ZNM said. The association said Ivanov is not the first state official who has divided journalists into two groups, patriots and traitors.

The president's cabinet was quick to denounce the accusations, saying Ivanov was misunderstood, but noted that the President continues to stand behind his comment. “I hear many of the arguments will be from our journalists who gave statements, spread speculations and gave false information, which the Greek side is using to their advantage,” Ivanov stated.

No veto on NATO accession says Greece
In its memorandum that Greece was presenting to the ICJ two days ago, the country completely rejects Macedonian claims that it vetoed Skopje’s NATO accession in 2008. It argued instead that the failure to invite Macedonia to the block at the Bucharest summit of the alliance was due to a lack of consensus, according to the Greek Foreign Ministry. The Ministry said the memorandum included legal, political and historical arguments that fully refute Skopje's claims.

Ongoing name ‘row’
Skopje last year brought its dispute with Athens to the ICJ, accusing Greece of breaching the 1995 UN Interim Accord over Macedonia's name by blocking its accession to the NATO. Under the accord, Greece agreed that it would no longer block Macedonia's accession into international organisations as long as it entered these organisations under the name the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. However, Athens insists that Skopje breached the accord well before it blocked the country's accession into NATO. The name dispute between the two countries is 18 years old. Legal experts warn that the case could drag on for many more years, and that court decisions are not legally binding. UN-led name talks have so far failed to produce a compromise between Athens and Skopje.

Sources: Balkan Insight; Macedonian International News Agency