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The members of the media donor co-ordination group supporting media development in the Republic of Macedonia over the past decade – Foundation Open Society Insitute, medienhilfe, Norwegian People’s Aid, Press Now and the Swedish Helsinki Committee - , would like to bring to your attention the last event of larceny on Saturday May 24th of the ALSAT-M TV and ART TV repeater system in the Tetovo region. We see the attacks on these TV transmitters as an attack on the free media in Macedonia. We strongly condemn this disturbing incident, and call for a full investigation of the matter regarding the theft of these transmitters.

Freedom of the media is a benchmark for measuring the degree of liberty of the citizens and society as a whole. Unfortunately, despite our efforts to contribute to creating a stable media community that will serve the needs of the citizens, we are still faced with violence against the media and their assets in Macedonia.

We would also like to remind you that this is the third time ALSAT TV or their employees are subject to attacks. We hope that the Ministry of Interior will act swiftly and bring the perpetrators to justice. Furthermore, we ask you to look into initiating measures to secure the persons and property of media outlets and institutions in the Republic of Macedonia.

Thank you,

Sincerely,

Foundation Open Society Institute

Vladimir Milcin, Executive Director; osi@soros.org.mk

medienhilfe

Nena Skopljanac; Director; info@medienhilfe.ch

Norwegian People’s Aid

Emil Jeremic; Regional Representative; npa@npa.org.yu

Press Now

Steven Assies; Programme Coordinator; info@europe.irex.org

Swedish Helsinki Committee

Marie Månson; Programme Director; info@shc.se

cc:

President of Republic of Macedonia

Government of Republic of Macedonia

Royal Norwegian Embassy

Embassy of Switzerland

Embassy of the Kingdom of Netherlands

Embassy of Sweden

British Embassy

Embassy of United States of America

OSCE Spillover Monitor Mission to Skopje

EU Mission in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia

Council of Europe

Ombudsman of the Republic of Macedonia

Public Prosecution Office of Republic of Macedonia

VMRO-DPMNE Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization–Democratic Party for Macedonian National Unity

SDSM - Social Democratic Union of Macedonia

DUI – Democratic Union for Integration

PDP – Party of Democratic Prosperity

DPA – Democratic Party of Albanians

VMRO NP - Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization- Peoples Party

LDP – Liberal Democratic Party

LD – Liberal Party of Macedonia

NSDP – New Social Democratic Party

SPM – Socialist party of Macedonia

Makfax – press agency

Macedonian Information Agency