IFJ/EFJ Call for Affiliates to Take Action in Support of Greek Colleagues

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and the European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) have called for affiliates across the world to support their colleagues sacked from Greek broadcasting station TV and fight to reverse the "deplorable" decision.

The IFJ/EFJ are calling on affiliates to show their support by holding demonstrations outside the Greek embassies in their countries. IFJ/EFJ, along with the AVBB (General Association of Professional Journalists of Belgium), are calling on journalists and media workers to come along to a protest of solidarity outside the Greek embassy in Brussels, at Karmelietenstraat 10, near Porte de Namur, tomorrowmorning at 10am. Messages of support for the staff at ERT can also be emailed to: [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected][email protected]
A letter, signed by IFJ President, Jim Boumelha, has been sent to Greek Prime Minister Antonios Samaras, expressing the IFJ's "dismay and shock" at the decision of the Greek government to stop ERT's transmission at midnight on Tuesday.

The letter states: "We condemn unreservedly this development - the first in the history of European broadcasting - and join the European Broadcasting Union to remind you of your commitment in the European Treaty your country signed five years ago recognising public service broadcasting, whose existence and independence lie at the heart of our democracies, as one of the pillars of the media pluralism throughout the European Union."

The letter explains that the IFJ will be mobilising its 180 journalists' member unions across the world to "stand shoulder to shoulder with our colleagues in Greece and help them fight to reverse this deplorable decision."

The letter concludes by stating that the IFJ is willing to work alongside its Greek affiliates to explore solution, but urges the Greek government to "intervene and re-establish ERT's broadcasting forthwith." You can read the letter here: IFJ Letter to Greek Prime Minister.doc Commenting on the situation, EFJ President, Mogens Blicher Bjerregård, said: "I am deeply concerned about this decision. Public service broadcasting is vitally important for democracy in Greece, indeed it is more important than ever at this time of crisis. Historically it has been the cornerstone of democracy and it is crucial that the Greek government reverses its decision. "Organisations working with the media across Europe must stand together and make every effort to fight this decision, and European politicans must take action to reestablish public broadcasting in Greece. This is not solely a situation affecting Greece, it could have serious repurcussions for other countries in Europe too." You can watch the events in Athens live now at: http://www3.ebu.ch/cms/fr/sites/ebu/contents/news/2013/06/monitor-ert-online.htmlIFJ affiliatesacross the world have expressed their solidary with staff at ERT:

EFJ delegates, meeting in Cyprus to promote diversity in the media, issued a statement, with support of participants, to express their "indignation and shock of the brutal closure of the public broadcasting service in Greece".  They have also signed a petition calling for the government to reversie its decision, which is being sent to the Greek embassy in Cyprus: http://bit.ly/172lOkP

In Austria, the EFJ/IFJ affiliate GPA-DJP expressed its solidarity and sent a message to Greek journalists and media workers.

In Hungary, the Associationof Hungarian Journalists (Magyar Ujságírók Országos Szövetsége MUOSZ) have given their support: http://www.emasa.hu/cikk.php?page=radio&id=10806 In Spain, the IFJ affiliates have shown widespread support for the staff at ERT. Federación de Servicios a la Ciudadaniade CC.OO (FSC-CC.OO), published this statement: ComunicadoSector Cierre ERT Griega ENG.docFAPE has also expressed solidiarity with the staff at ERT: http://www.fape.es/la-presidenta-de-la-fape-expresa-su-apoyo-a-los-trabajadores-de-la-radio-y-television-publicas-gri-818827521460.htm
http://www.fape.es/las-federaciones-internacional-y-europea-de-periodistas-exigen-al-gobierno-griego-que-revoque-el-cie-818827481406.htm And FeSP have called for action: http://periodismoparaperiodistas.blogspot.ie/2013/06/los-sindicatos-espanoles-de-periodistas.html Staff from RTVE organised a protest at its headquarters in Madrid to show their support
In France, SNJ-CGT have issued a joint statement condemning the closure: http://www.snj.fr/

In Germany, Ver.di have issued a statement supporting the workers. A demonstration will be held in Cologne on 19 June to show their solidarity with Greek journalists. In the Netherlands, the union (NVJ) has sent a solidarity message to ERT journalists and called on the government to reopen the broadcaster.

In Italy, FNSI, have also given their support to their Greek colleagues:  http://www.fnsi.it/Esterne/Fvedinews.asp?AKey=15591 In the UK, the NUJ took part in international condemnation of the ERT closure announcement: http://www.nuj.org.uk/innerPagenuj.html?docid=2952 In Austria, the public broadcaster ORF has sent a letter of support to Greek journalists at ERT. In Norway, the Nowegian Union of Journalists (NJ) and its branch in Norwegian Broadcasting (NRKJ), have sent letters of protest to the Greek governemtn and its embassies in Oslo. In Switzerland, Impressum- Les journalistes suisses, have also issued a statement saying the closure of ERT is a blow to democracy: http://www.impressum.ch/ In Africa, the Federation of African Journalists (FAJ) have condemned the action of the Greek government and call on them to reverse their decision.

In Serbia, theJournalists' Association of Serbia (UNS) and the Journalists' Union ofSerbia (SINOS), have extended strong support to the journalists and media workers at ERT. In Russia, the Russian Union of Journalists (RUJ) has stated that the closure of ERT was shocking news and expressed its solidarity with Greek colleagues

Statements of support for workers at ERT have also been made by otherorganisations across the world:

- Statement ofUNI-MEI
- Statement ofthe EBU
- Statement ofSEEMO/IPI - Statement of ETUC