20. 03. 2013

RESTRICTIVE AND VAGUE

Belgrade, March 20, 2013 (Dnevnik) - Representatives of media and journalists' associations and certain media have stated numerous objections to the Draft Law on Public Information and Media.

The associations expect that when adopted, the law will guarantee freedom of media in Serbia and be a crowning law that will provide for the regulation of the media scene in line with the contemporary European standards.

Culture and Media Minister Bratislav Petkovic said that the reform of the media legislation would prevent the state from pressuring media and guarantee the respect of public interest in information in line with the European norms and practice. He thinks that the Draft Law on Public Information and Media will provide for withdrawal of the state from ownership in media within the set deadlines, but that will surely not mean the state will not be responsible anymore or that it will end the achievent of public interest in the field of information.

"The new media law will be the foundation of the media freedom, but it will also oblige state bureaucratic structures to transform and authorities to be in service of media and citizens", Petkovic said.

Representatives of the OSCE Mission to Serbia, EU Commission and British Embassy in Belgrade emphasized the importance of withdrawal of the state from ownership in media and transparency of project financing that would create equal conditions on the media market in Serbia. Head of EU Delegation to Serbia Vincent Degert expects this law will solve many discrepancies in the current legislation regulating the state ownership in media. He pointed to an unsustainable model of financing of RTS and RTV and raised the issue of taxpayers being able to financially support six more regional public service broadcasters in the country. Degert also noted that national minorities in Serbia should have their own media and that there were several different ways to ensure objective and impartial informing of minorities.