Greek border authorities blocked the entrance into Greece for Macedonain Journalists from A1, Vreme, Forum, Makedonsko Sonce and Dnevnik. 

The TV crews wished to film the gathering and the begining of the Macedonian celebrations in Lerin and Ovcarani, which are scheduled to start today, traditionally two weeks before Ilinden, with Ilinden being a day for picnic.

Greece had put more than a hundred policemen at the border, as well as near Ovcarani. Greek border authorities told the Macedonian journalists, the reason for their blocking is they didn't have a 'proper accreditation' to visit. The journalists were told they could visit Greece, i.e. their accreditation would work after the celebrations in Lerin and Ovcarani are done.

Besides the police, there was a large number of Greek Journalists present at the border.

Katerina Neshkova of Macedonian Magazine Forum had Greek visa specifically issued for reporting out of Greece, however, wasn't allowed to enter. "We were told we can't enter because we didn't have a permission from the Greek Ministry of Public Relations, even though "Forum" has special journalist accreditation issued from the Greek Embassy. Their Authorities told us we can enter if we leave our cameras and equipment. Of course we can't do that so we decided to go back", says Neshkova.

Slavko Mangovski, a US Citizen, editor of TV Sonce, was denied entry and was told he is still on the Greek "Black List".

"I am on their black list since 2002. My case even went to the EU. I was told I was a 'national threat to Greece' because I was a journalist. Back in 1999, 2000, 2001, I was in Lerin, Solun every week, filming and interviewing Macedonians there. I wrote many stories for the "Macedonian Sun". In my reports I wrote of all the Macedonians I met, and how all of them have preserved their native language, which got me blacklsited by Greece," says Mr. Mangovski.

The situation at the border had been tense since earlier today. Greek TV Stations "Mega" and "Antena" wished to film the celebration of Aegean Macedonian refugees in Skopje, but were denied entry into Macedonia. Macedonian Authorities followed their Greek counterparts and told the Athens based TV Crews they couldn't enter because of a lack of accreditations from the Macedonian Ministry of Public Relations.