27. 07. 2006

TADIĆ SENDS BROADCASTING LAW BACK

BELGRADE, July 27, 2006. (Beta) - Serbian President Boris Tadić has sent the Broadcasting Law back to the parliament for further discussions. Tadić said that with the proposed amendments and changes to the law, the independent work of the Broadcasting Agency would be seriously compromised, because the amendments call for the Serbian Government to make an agreement on a financial plan for the agency, rather than the Serbian Parliament. “President Tadić also believes that the principle of equality for those participating in the competition for frequencies would be compromised, because the changes and additions look to postpone the start of the broadcasts and decrease the refunds of the radio program emitters,” according to a statement from the president’s press service. Several expert organisations as well as the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe’s mission in Serbia have protested the changes, stating that there was no transparency in the process of passing the bill and no public discussion of the amendments. Journalist Associations support decision The Independent Association of Journalists of Serbia showed support for Tadić’s decision to send back the Broadcasting Law. The IAJS “hopes that the Serbian President’s decision will be a clear sign to the representatives to carefully evaluate the changes and additions, to look at the other solutions and opinions that are on the table and decided on them according to the representatives’ responsibilities, and not according to party interests.” The Association of Serbian Journalists also supports the decision. It stated that the Association expects Tadić’s decision to be used for discussing the law with public experts, because the Broadcasting Agency is given too much jurisdiction over the finality of its decisions. “In this way, the regulatory body has no reason to pretend it is the only necessary institution for which rules of general executive cases do not apply, nor do decisions of the court for temporary forbidding implementation,” according to a statement from the Association. “Tadić is working for Karić” Democratic Party of Serbia official Andreja Mladenović accused Tadić of “serving Bogoljub Karić and his interests” by not signing the amendments into law. “Not signing the document and returning to for a re-vote in the parliament shows whoses influence stands behind this decision and show that there are still close ties between the Democratic Party and Karić that have yet to be severed.” Mladenović told the Beta news agency.