The Association of Journalists of Macedonia today in a statement welcomed the efforts of the European Union and the United States as facilitators in the Przhino Agreement and as guarantors of its implementation and encourages them to continue to discussions with political parties on media reforms as one of the important conditions for fair and credible elections.
“The AJM welcomes the European Commissioner Johannes Hahn and MEP Richard Howitt’s statements, who seek to implement media reforms before the parliamentary elections. The AJM considers the assessments of the EU and the US on freedom of the media in Macedonia as objective, and expects Washington and Brussels to insist that the government provide favourable conditions for a free and professional media. We regret the responses we received from the EU and the US, as for the public speculation that the International Community is prepared to sacrifice media reforms due to the postponement of the election date, it is not entirely clear to us. However, the question remains, will there be media reforms before June 5 to improve the media coverage during the election campaigns and provide equal media coverage to all parties”, said the statement by the association.
The Association said they will continue to work for systemic and sustainable reforms in the media in accordance with the Przhino Agreement, and will use all democratic means to persuade the signatories and guarantors of the Agreement to insure changes to the media legislation before the elections.
“The High Representative for freedom in the media at the OSCE, Dunja Mijatovic has been informed over recent developments, and in the coming days we will send a letter to Commissioner Johannes Hahn and to all Embassies of EU Member States in Skopje as-well as the US State Department, where we shall seek the Przhino Agreement be fully implemented before the elections”, said the statement.
