By Dzihat Aliju

SKOPJE, Macedonia

Macedonian government was harshly condemned after it announced direct payments to newspapers, including a daily linked to Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO).

The government of Prime Minister Zoran Zaev approved payments for 11 newspapers in 2018, including Zaman Macedonia that is linked to FETO.

The decision was announced by the State Minister Robert Popovski during a press meeting on Monday.

The FETO-linked daily has received €14,700 ($16,795).

FETO and its U.S.-based leader Fetullah Gulen orchestrated the defeated coup of July 15, 2016, which left 251 people martyred and nearly 2,200 injured.

Ankara also accuses FETO of being behind a long-running campaign to overthrow the state through the infiltration of Turkish institutions, particularly the military, police, and judiciary.

Turkey's Embassy in Skopje, as well as Macedonian politicians with Turkish descent, have condemned the move.

In a statement, the embassy said Turkey condemned the "unacceptable" move and called on the Macedonian government to reconsider it in light of the "friendly and brotherly relations between the two countries."

Macedonian State Minister Elvin Hasan, who is of Turkish descent, told Anadolu Agency that the government had decided to support the ailing print media in the country last year.

However, he said the government had asked the Association of Journalists of Macedonia (AJM) to decide which newspapers get these funds.

Hasan said AJM took this decision after consulting with The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) and other international organizations.

He said his ministry will notify all bodies of the government about criticism of the decision from Turks in the country and that it will do its best to reverse the decision.

'Unacceptable'

Enes Ibrahim, a lawmaker and the president of Party for the Movement of Turks, expressed his disappointment and said that they have already started fighting against the move.

"We will put our full strength to cancel this payment to FETO newspaper," Ibrahim added.

Beycan Ilyas, president of the Turkish Democratic Party, also blasted the decision and said that he will talk to the prime minister and convey his concerns as soon as possible.

"It is unacceptable to fund FETO newspapers with our taxes," Beycan said.

Beycan added that fight against FETO is their red line and the main reason for their participation in the coalition government.

Turkish National Unity Movement leader Erdogan Sarac also condemned the government's decision and called it "hypocrisy" against brotherly country Turkey.

Husrev Emin, the leader of the Association of Turkish Civil Society Organizations, urged the government to act in accordance with the promises made to Turkey regarding fight against terrorism.

"We expect our government to side with Turkey against FETO that killed 251 civilians and wounded more than 2,200 in a bloody coup attempt," Emin said.

Emin also recalled that the Macedonian prime minister had called FETO a terrorist organization in 2017 during Turkish language festivals.

Foreign Affairs Minister Nikola Dimitrov also expressed support to Turkey's fight against terrorism only two weeks ago in Ankara.