Skopje, 2 April 2024 (MIA) - The Western Balkans Anti-Disinformation Hub is holding Tuesday a conference titled “Defending democracy in the Balkans: Protecting the integrity of information in the digital era”, which marks the International Fact-Checking Day (April 2).

Opening the conference, EU Ambassador David Geer said that he has already seen, due to the elections, malign influences affecting fact-checking, especially online. This is happening not only in North Macedonia, he said, but also in the region and across Europe because this is election year. According to the diplomat, it is the duty of all institutions to allow fact-checking and it needs to be distinguished between information and disinformation, facts and alternative facts. Geer noted the cooperation the EU has as regards fact-checking with the communities in the region. He also said that fact-checkers should work independently free of any political pressure. 

Dutch Ambassador Dirk Jan Kop said the project was launched several months before Russia’s aggression of Ukraine. Fact-checking should go hand in hand with media literacy, he said adding that there is a need of public debate in democratic societies. People, the Ambassador stressed, should feel free to say what they think. According to Kop, the governments shouldn’t interfere, but people should also be aware of their behavior online. 

Speaking at the conference, Vladimir Nachev, state secretary at the Defense Ministry, said the now we’re in a phase when the line between a lie and the truth is oftentimes blurred. Disinformation has the power to trigger mistrust and undermine the tissue of our democratic institutions, he said presenting the ways the Ministry is fighting disinformation. “There could be far-reaching and deep consequences affecting public opinion and undermining the trust in the institutions. Left debunked, they could pave the way for conspiracy theories and undermine the foundations of our democracy,” Nachev warned. 

Bardil Jashari, Metamorphosis Director, called today’s event an important turning point as it marks the International Fact-Checking Day. 

“This event confirms our pledges to protect the truth and integrity, underlines the irreplaceable role of fact-checkers. We strongly believe in the joint commitment, in the transparent processes and the network of sharing, because it is the foundation of our work at Metamorphosis, which this year marks its 20th anniversary. This Balkan network is seen as a normal progress in the region from all the conferences that have been held. We want this network to create new partnership because only through joint action can we have joint influence,” Jashari said. 

The conference also includes panels on challenges on tackling manipulation and interference with foreign information in the Balkans and elections in an era of disinformation. 

Representatives of media and organizations from North Macedonia, Kosovo, Montenegro, Albania, BiH, Greece, Slovakia participate in the event, hosted by the Metamorphosis Foundation in Skopje. 

Photo: Metamorphosis' Facebook page