04. 09. 2008

MINISTER OF CULTURE AND MEDIA: STATE WILL NOT OWN ANY MEDIA OUTLETS

We will initiate modification of the laws in the field of public information and broadcasting with the aim to avoid the abuse of the state's role in any possible way. The state should not own any media outlets, which will be achieved by their privatization... Also, the state should not dictate conditions nor policy in the area of culture. Instead, the state is a partner, offering support and cooperation.

Belgrade, September 4, 2008 (Vreme) – Nebojsa Bradic has been the minister of culture and the media for two months. According to everyday reports from the Ministry, he has traveled to many destinations during this period, talked to numerous people from his sector, met with representatives of foreign countries, solved many problems... His first results, impressions, plans – are the main focus of this interview.

Nebojsa Bradic is an educated director, manager of the Krusevac Theatre, Atelje 212, National Theatre, Belgrade Drama Theatre, who has directed more than 70 plays in Serbian, Bosnian and Greek theatres, and won numerous awards – among them the award for best theatre manager... We will point out a detail which has not been mentioned in his biography at the official web site of the Ministry: his interview in "Vreme" (issue 477) was the subject of a trial initiated in April 2000 by legal charges filed by the then minister of culture, Zeljko Simic, against the magazine, on the basis of the Law on Information which was in force at that time.

"VREME": A new Law on Information has been announced. What will be the main differences compared to regulations which were applied against "Vreme"?

NEBOJŠA BRADIC: The process related to my interview in "Vreme", in which I was a witness in court, unfortunately, ended even before it began. At that time judgments were passed without any serious analysis and, of course, I have bad memories from that period. But we have to suppress some things to be able to move on. During the following period we should create an atmosphere of inviolability of free expression and free access to information. We have initiated modification of the laws in the area of public information and broadcasting with the aim to avoid the abuse of the role of the state in any possible way. The state should not own any media outlets, and this will be achieved by media privatization, which has not been completed yet. Also, the state should not use its authority to conduct censorship. There shall be no censorship, that is clear. I believe that it is important to create an atmosphere in which the right to information will be realized and honored by the state, regardless of the fact that the minister of culture may be subjected to sometimes vulgar and fierce attacks from various centers of political power, originating mostly from people with different political views. Of course, I will pay due attention to everything done within limitations of decency and respect to profession, but insults should be punishable by law.

You have said recently that, apart from the Law on Public Information and the Law on Broadcasting, the Law on Public Service Broadcaster, i.e. RTS, is being prepared. Can you say something about its scope?

The idea about a special law on public service broadcaster does not include major changes in these relationships, just their more precise regulation. At the moment, we are consulting with experts and other stakeholders whether it would be more efficient for the public service to remain regulated by the Law on Broadcasting, with certain amendments, or to regulate this area by a separate law which would more clearly clarify important issues like the license fee or the role of the Council of the Republic Broadcasting Agency. The Law on Public Service Broadcaster should also define the role of RTS and Radio and Television Vojvodina, as well as the issue of regional centers which could join this major system. These are all open issues because the status of regional centers has remained unsolved in the process of privatization, as well as the status of minority media, and therefore it is necessary to define this more specifically. It is our aim to have legal framework created by the professional public. Not to mention that European Union standards do not allow state ownership of media outlets. Therefore, certain anomalies from the previous period must be solved and we should achieve most desirable standards for our future development. This means that we will treat laws as a support to sustainable social development, and not as an instrument for punishment of media outlets. It is clear what should be regulated by law: hate speech, the right to privacy for victims of crime, child pornography, while everything else is the matter of professional standards. If professional standards are observed, the state will not have to intervene.

Is culture and the media too large of an area for one ministry?

This is not just the matter of size of the culture and media domain, but of the social development phase we are in. The transition and effects of privatization have had consequences detrimental to these two areas. The diminishing of the role of the state and the change of media ownership have left serious consequences in the area of information. On the other side, our state has been through many wars and hardships, and it is not always capable of solving detrimental effects of social development – "post-Vietnam syndrome", great social differences, domination of media culture, destroyed system of values... Therefore the role of culture and the media is very important. I believe that culture and the media are both part of the same struggle – the struggle for better quality of life of our citizens and support for social development. Time will show what kind of success we can expect.

Priorities of your Ministry are the efforts to prepare new laws in the area of culture and the media, as well as to increase the budget for culture. You must be aware of the fact that all your predecessors had the same intentions. What makes you think you will succeed?

Our Ministry will be the ministry of continuity in the area of legislation and tenders. Therefore I believe that we will have an easier job compared to our predecessors. Continuity is systematic matter, taking over projects from the previous period, their completion, or the efficient introduction of new projects and their realization. This is the main goal of our ministry. At this moment we are not trying to create a ministry that will be disconnected from its predecessors. We want to retain the best experiences from previous ministries, but to improve them with a different approach, and to change things that should be changed. The laws which have already been prepared, or are being drafted, will be completed and will enter the parliamentary procedure. New laws in the area of the media are also being prepared. But preparation of laws is one thing, while their adoption and enforcement is a completely different and much more important matter. Our expectations and promises depend on the work of the National Parliament of Serbia. Regarding the budget for 2009, it has already been prepared. We have included activities to promote our country abroad, new projects and transformation of institutions. If we win support for these items, the budget for culture will be increased.

The work of the Ministry of Culture, and the realization of its aims, depend on other ministries. What kind of cooperation do you expect? For example, do you have indications that your budget will be approved, and that previously unattainable one percent of Serbian budget will be allocated for culture?

I expect understanding and partnership from other ministries in the Government. The share of culture is less than one percent of the total budget of Serbia. In other words, what kind of influence can have a ministry participating with an amount starting with zero? This situation has been additionally complicated by increased expectations for bigger support for national institutions, subventions for various kinds or art (both "higher" and "lower"), awards for retired artists, the "White Palace" Fund, restoration of Hilandar, international cooperation, support to film industry... Without additional funds, the Ministry of Culture will not be able to successfully achieve its role.

Read the rest of the interview in the weekly magazine "Vreme"