Letter to Mr Karolos Papoulias, President of the Republic of Greece

Mr President,

Statements by Vice President of the Greek Government, Mr. Theodoros Pangalos, and Greek news reports clearly indicate that the Greek government, based on consultancy reports, could be in the process of closing down or changing the ownership structure of Athens News Agency (ANA), a respected member of the international news agency business and the European Alliance of News Agencies (EANA). As the Board of the European Alliance of News Agencies we urge you to secure ANA's basic function as a provider of unbiased and trustworthy news to both Greek and international traditional and new media. ANA is a member of the international news network and an uncontrolled closing or change of ownership structure of the agency could lead to a seriously negative impact on the Greek voice in the international media community.

For the news agency's trustworthiness it is vital that the ownership structure, whichever one chosen, is clear and transparent. We understand the urgent situation under which Greece is working to come to grips with the economic situation. However, unbiased news plays an even more essential role for democracy in a critical situation as Greece is in today.

EANA comprises news agencies in 30 European countries and serves as a forum for cooperation and information for the news agency business. The news agency business constitutes the very basics of news gathering and distribution and has to be seen as a backbone of true and unbiased news reporting in a democracy. It is a business that needs a healthy environment abounding in freedom of the press, fair competition and simple and basic rules to operate.

The EANA member agencies are primarily providers of news stories and also of pictures, graphics, radio and video reports and other information to both traditional media and new media environments created by the rapid development of modern information technology.

News agencies working in accordance with the principles of press freedom and unbiased news are of major importance to the democratic society. To secure an economic and legal environment for news agencies operating in accordance with these rules is therefore one of EANA's main concerns.

This is the background to the EANA Board urging you to use your authority as a defender of basic democratic values in your country to ensure that Athens News Agency also in the future will have an independent role as a provider of unbiased and trustworthy news services for both traditional and new media in Greece and abroad. Whatever ownership structure chosen, it should be clear and transparent.

Please note that the EANA Board is available for further discussions, if you need more information etc.

With our best regards,

Mika Pettersson, Editor-in-Chief and CEO of STT-Lehtikuva, Helsinki and President of EANA
Peter Kropsch, CEO of APA, Vienna and Board Member of EANA
Clive Marshall, CEO of Press Association, London and Board Member of EANA
Erik Nylén, Secretary General of EANA, Stockholm

Contact person: Erik Nylen, Secretary General of EANA, email: [email protected], mobile: +46 739 865272