MINA “News” Agency – a Major Embarassment of Objectivity and Truth in Reporting

FYROM’s efforts to disseminate propaganda in the internet, has reached recently epidemic proportions. One of the most suitable candidates for earning the title of the News “Best Manipulator” is the infamous MINA. Today’s MINA landscape consists of tiresome repetition of  half-truths and falsehoods when dealing with neighbouring Greece.

A fine example can be found on the news story concerning Ms Dora Grosomanidou, the former Head of the Greek Liaison Office in FYROM. Ms Grosomanidou had given an interview for Financial Times on 04.07.2007 where she stated explicitely:

““Greece has to face the new reality, as the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia has been recognised under its constitutional name by more than half of the members of the United Nations“

Let’s check out now, how the Masters of Manipulation in MINA, distorted and presented Ms Grosomanidou’s statements.

CASE 1. In MINA’s related report of  the 1st May 2008, we can find.

Someone here just shot on his own foot. Ms Grosomanidou never stated FYROM has been around before Greece“. MINA commited an amateurish, pitiful attempt to distort her original statements. They have a point though. Indeed the culprit behind this petty article could constitute a Jerry Springer’s Material.

CASE 2,  In MINA’s related report of  the 22th February of 2008, we  find.

Another article, another pathetic wilful distortion of Ms Grosomanidou’s statements by MINA. As it’s evident, the underlined text “the historical reality that Macedonians has existed and will continue to exist” as a matter of fact exists only in the ill-mind of the MINA’s reporter who manipulated Ms Grosomanidou’s statement.

Case 3.  MINA’s related article of 8th November 2008

In the November 8 column, MINA managed to embarass itself further. The new masterpiece with a new round of fabricated statements,  is further evidence that MINA’s commitment to dishing out propaganda and misinformation, exceeds any other commitment.. Funnily they are trying to pass it as real “News”.

CASE 4. In the related article of 13th March 2008

Finally, MINA completes its “Series of Ms Grosomanidou’ Distorted Statements” with another self-embarassing piece of fabricated reporting. The Greek diplomat obviously never stated anything like that. The least MINA’s “reporters” could do is  to follow of their own advice and…undergo a reality check!!

Certainly MINA does not constitute the only FYROM’s Propaganda Mouthpiece, regarding the specific issue. A small search in the net will reveal more fabrications, involving the Greek diplomat’s original statements. Other Propagandists from FYROM in American Chronicle proved to be more desperate and invented more falsehoods like “the Greek Ambassador to the Republic of Macedonia was also fired not too long ago for referring to the Republic of Macedonia as the “Republic of Macedonia” and not as the “Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia“”. Of course here we shouldn’t be suprised,  since  afterall the real news would be if he actually wrote anything being true!!!

In the aftermath of all these pitiful samples of FYROM’s Propaganda, a  person would have asked the obvious questions.

1. Why MINA has distorted Ms Grosomanidou’s original statements  4 times and invented as many fabrications which she never stated anyway?

2. Will MINA officialy apologize to Ms Grosomanidou and all its readers for presenting Fabricated Reports, full of half-truths and Distorted statements as a SERIOUS News Agency ought to do? Is there any decency left there?

I sincerely hope that the words of a Bulgarian Intellectual from the past century, used in relation to their compatriots wont apply to MINA ALSO at this time.

“Among them the lie is something customary, it is not considered a vice, but as a sign of wit . The one among them who is caught lying does not feel remorse or embarrassment, but only a sorrow because he wasn’t clever enough when constructing the lie“.

By Nikos A.

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