08. 01. 2013

GOVERNMENT ASPIRE TO WITHDRAW FROM OWNERSHIP IN MEDIA

Belgrade, January 8, 2013 (Pregled) - The goal of the Serbian Government is to withdraw from ownership in media, the Serbian Prime Minister Ivica Dacic told Beta news agency.

This however does not pertain to the media for which the withdrawal of the state would mean immediate closedown, such as RTS and news agency Tanjug.

The Prime Minister explained that RTS had recorded very low TV subscription fee collection rate and that the Government was under a great pressure - from RTS on one side and media associations on the other, which were urging it to find the best solution that would have prevented regaining the state ownership in media.

"We are willing to help and consider whether the option of the TV collection fee will remain the main source of RTS financing. There are working groups working on finding the best solutions corresponding the current state of crisis. I think there would be great and severe consequences if RTS bankrupted. No country in the world would have allowed it", Dacic said.

Dacic pointed out that the interest of the Government was not that media became its members, namely to blindly carry out someone's orders. It is however important to establish the rules that would apply to everyone.

The Prime Minister also said that the financial cricis was visible in media, much like many other domains in the country. In addition, there is a crisis in media ownership, visible in the attempt of many actors, who formally advocate for media freedom, to have their influence on the editorial concept and reporting of certain print media through hidden ownership.