18. 07. 2006

OSCE MISSION URGES SERBIAN ASSEMBLY TO AVOID HASTY ADOPTION OF AMENDMENTS TO BROADCASTING LAW

The Mission is particularly troubled with the manner in which the Law on Changes and Amendments to the Law on Broadcasting was put forward, without the necessary consultations and expertise involving domestic stakeholders and international institutions. "The need for an in-depth consultation process has already been emphasized by the Mission in its previous comments to the Republic Broadcasting Agency, the Ministry of Culture and the Parliamentary Committee for Culture and Information of 30 March 2006," said Douglas Wake, Acting Head of the OSCE Mission. "Such consultations should involve, among others, the Serbian Telecommunications Agency." He added that before the final vote on the proposed amendments by the National Assembly, the Mission, which has been mandated to assist and advise the state authorities and the media in Serbia on broadcasting issues, wished to reiterate that such undue haste was inappropriate. "The Mission considers the regulation of Serbia's broadcast spectrum to be of paramount importance. I hope that the Assembly will carefully consider such new legislation in this field, which will be adopted in compliance with internationally accepted procedures, allowing for a wide public discussion to take place." The amendments in question relate to the scope of activity of the Republican Broadcasting Agency and the manner in which its decisions are implemented.