Furkan Saliu, an Albanian journalist in Skopje, clashed yesterday with 4 journalists who came from Kosovo and Albania for the appointment of Talat Xhaferi as technical prime minister in North Macedonia.
Saliu has accused the 4 journalists of making propaganda for DUI, Ali Ahmeti’s party, and that state tools, such as cars and accommodation, have been put at their service and that they have been privileged in the parliamentary lodge of North Macedonia, occupying the ambassadors’ place, while the local media was not allowed to participate.
Saliu also shared a video on his website where he asks the 4 journalists how much money they received from the state authorities to make propaganda. But while Berat Buzhala, Adriatik Kelmendi and Baton Haxhiu left laughing, Blendi Fevziu retorted harshly with the journalist from Skopje, telling him to be ashamed of himself for asking such questions, being a young journalist.
The treatment of 4 journalists from Kosovo and Albania has become an issue today in North Macedonia.
The Association of Macedonian Journalists (SHGM) announced that today it has sent a reaction and request for an explanation for what they say is the unprincipled treatment of foreign journalists in the Assembly of Macedonia, to the newly elected Speaker of the Assembly, Jovan Mitreski.
From SHGM they say that after reports from journalists and according to media reports during yesterday, four journalists have been privileged from the services of the Assembly at the expense of journalists and local media workers.
“According to the chronicle of the Portal X portal, the four foreign journalists have decided to sit in the diplomatic part of the terrace in the plenary hall and were also transported in official vehicles of the Government during their visit”.
“We believe that until now this has not been a practice and we emphasize that with such actions a precedent is created which may leave the impression that someone is privileged at the expense of another in the journalistic field. At the very least, such treatment demeans other journalists and creates a perception that foreign journalists are influenced to report in favor of local stakeholders by political parties in the Assembly, while the unequal treatment of journalists contributes to the lack of transparency and accountability”.
“The privileging of some journalists over others by the services of the Assembly of the Republic of North Macedonia raises serious concerns for the freedom and integrity of journalism in the country. Such favoritism can result in biased reporting, censorship and suppression of diverse voices, ultimately compromising the public’s right to have access to accurate and unbiased information”, say SHGM.
Portal video link Portal X:
https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1109859966870821
