19. 09. 2012

Government to guarantee media freedom in every sense

Belgrade, 19.9.2012. (Serbian Government) - First Deputy Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic met today with OSCE representative on freedom of the media Dunja Mijatovic and underlined that the new government will guarantee media freedom in every sense of the word, adding that the state should withdraw from the media as soon as possible.

Vucic highlighted that Serbia wants to be a modern state and will do all it can to achieve international standards in terms of the media, as this will be one of the steps bringing it closer to the EU.

He voiced his gratitude to the OSCE on their assistance and suggestions regarding the reform of the public broadcasting service.

Mijatovic, who is on a first official visit to Serbia since the formation of the new government, voiced her readiness to give her own contribution, within her authorisations, to Serbia during its OSCE presidency in 2015.

She said that her visit is well-timed and that the conference on the freedom of the media in south-eastern Europe, organised by the OSCE at the end of the week, is aimed at bringing people closer and developing dialogue.

All of the meetings I held with government representatives were successful and we found open doors everywhere, Mijatovic underlined, adding that when it comes to the media, the main problem is the large presence of the state's share in this sector.