Greece Bans News ‘Distortion’

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32367, 5 August 1970, Page 13

Greece Bans News ‘Distortion’

(N.Z.P.A. -Reuter—Copyright) ATHENS, August 4.

The Greek Government’s Under-Secretary of Information has warned of new moves against press “distortion.”

He told local journalists yesterday how they would be expected to assist the Government in its effort to reshape Greek politics. Mr George Georgalas—once a leading Communist, who

joined Mr George Papadopoulos’s Cabinet last month —said that the regime, which seized power in April, 1967, insisted that there should be a radical change in the social life of the country. This could not be established “with the old type of press which abused its powers in the pre-revolutionary period," he said. “We want to change the ideas, mentality and the framework of the parties, persons, and the press,” he added—and warned that from now on the Government would take measures to deal with inaccurate reporting, distortion

of facts or the publishing of half-truths. The regime was determined to answer back all inaccuracies and distortions, he said. . When the Army seized power in 1967, it imposed a rigid censorship which it relaxed late last year when it published a new press law. Mr Georgalas agreed yesterday that some provisions of this law were very severe but he added: “Before the revolution and even now, a section of the press served economic interest, rekindled old political passions and created division among the Greek people. “These methods are no lon-

ger acceptable,” he declared. Mr Georgalas said that the press visualised by the Army revolution was a “free press” but it would not be allowed to make irresponsible attacks or inaccurate statements. He promised to create a school for young journalists who would be awarded scholarships to study journalistic technique abroad. He also announced the formation of a permanent committee representing the Government, newspapers and journalists, to modernise and raise the standard of journalism.