15. 07. 2003

Parliament decision deepens the crisis

The decision of the Serbian Parliament to confirm Nenad Cekic, Vladimir Cvetkovic and Goran Radenovic as members of the Broadcast Agency Council will do nothing to improve the credibility of this regulatory body, ANEM states.

The membership of Nenad Cekic and Vladimir Cvetkovic was disputed on the grounds of procedural errors, while Goran Radenovic failed to fulfil the legal requirements for membership of the body. Their election was confirmed by the votes of the Democratic Party, the Socialist Party of Serbia, Branislav Ivkovic's Socialist People's Party and the Party of Serbian Unity.

ANEM emphasises that this decision by Parliament cannot erase the legal errors in the election of Council members Cekic and Cvetkovic. Similarly, in the case of Radenovic, ignoring facts which show he does not meet the legal requirements of Parliament can do nothing for the reputation of the Broadcast Council. Those who think that they can secure the legitimacy and legality of Agency members through a political trade-off with Milosevic regime parties are mistaken.

Today's Broadcast Council has been established through political bargaining, violation of the law and the exercise of force. It does not provide for the reputation and credibility essential for the complex tasks that lay ahead of it.

Finally, ANEM emphasises that it will keep on trying to restore the credibility and legal election of members to the Broadcast Agency by all legal means.

Veran Matic
ANEM chairman