10. 11. 2009

DEFINITION OF TOP SECRET TOO WIDE

OSCE criticize the Law on Data Protection

Belgrade, November 10, 2009 (Blic) - An article that could prevent the Commissioner for Information and Ombudsman of accessing certain information of interest has been finally removed from the Draft Law on Data Protection. However, certain provisions of this Law are still disputable, thus provoking the reaction of the Organization for Security and Cooperation OSCE.

As the daily Blic reported, OSCE has recently forwarded the list of objections regarding the Law on Data Protection to the Serbian Government and Ministry of Justice. Although the most important objections concern the Article that has been recently removed at the parliamentary session, OSCE went one step further. In the letter sent to all competent bodies, this organization warned of a too wide definition of the term top secret. They also said that it was necessary to tighten the control mechanisms, but also to protect the position of insiders.

Slobodan Homen, the State Secretary in the Ministry of Justice, told Belgrade daily Blic that one disputed article had been entirely removed from the Law which would, in such altered form, enter the parliamentary procedure around December 1.

Insider two years late

The Commissioner Rodoljub Sabic reminds that Serbia is late with regulating the legal position of insider. As member of the Group of countries fighting against the corruption (GRECO) within the Council of Europe, Serbia was obliged to do so by 2007.