(GHM/IFEX) – GHM is denouncing and condemning the repeated attacks of Greek Foreign Minister Theodore Pangalos against journalists who hold opinions he considers embarrassing. **Updates IFEX alert of 23 December 1998** On 22 December 1998, in Skopje during an official visit to the Republic of Macedonia, he said that there is no Macedonian minority in […]
(GHM/IFEX) – GHM is denouncing and condemning the repeated attacks of Greek
Foreign Minister Theodore Pangalos against journalists who hold opinions he
considers embarrassing.
**Updates IFEX alert of 23 December 1998**
On 22 December 1998, in Skopje during an official visit to the Republic of
Macedonia, he said that there is no Macedonian minority in Greece and that
persons claiming there is a Macedonian minority are “pervert intellectuals
and pervert journalists.”
Upon his return to Greece, in a interview in the daily “Apogevmatini” on 28
December, he called those in the Republic of Macedonia claiming there is a
Macedonian minority in Greece “monkeys and animals.” It is to be reminded
that related questions were asked in Skopje by Macedonian journalists.
On 11 January, on Antenna TV, he again denied the existence of a Macedonian
minority adding that he forbids any discussion about it.
Then in Sofia on 19 January, he stated that “the Greek journalists are the
worst enemies of the Greek government,” when one of them asked him what he
perceived as an embarrassing question on Greek-Bulgarian relations.
Recommended Action
Send appeals to the Foreign Minister:
journalists who may be critical of established positions or government
actions, and show little respect for freedom of expression, a fundamental
human right
Appeals To
HE Theodore Pangalos
Foreign Minister
Greece
minister@mfa.gr
Please copy appeals to the source if possible.
