Belgrade, February 3, 2012 - The Association of Independent Electronic Media (ANEM) points out that protests caused by the new tariff of SOKOJ have proved that the Association, as a representative organization of users-broadcasters, was right to emphasize the unacceptability of increased tariffs during negotiations with SOKOJ and during the proceedings that took place before the Commission for Copyright and Related Rights and courts.

ANEM intends to address SOKOJ as early as today with the request to urgently schedule a meeting and continue negotiation on tariffs. Regardless of whether SOKOJ will accept this proposal or not, ANEM will file a new lawsuit next week, demanding that the tariffs be annulled and proposing adoption of temporary measure that would postpone its implementation until the court verdict. ANEM will not drop this charge even if SOKOJ agrees to begin new negotiations; the Association intends to drop the lawsuit only if negotiations result in an agreement that would be acceptable to broadcasters. At the same time, ANEM emphasizes that the old tariff from 2009 are not a good basis for a new agreement, since it was also unacceptably high.

Aside from this, ANEM points out that the latest developments, especially the direct involvement of the government in the process of regulation of the amount of fees - as evidenced by the fact that the Government of Serbia has adopted the Proposed Amendments to the Law on Copyright and Related Rights that is to be forwarded to the Serbian Parliament for adoption - demonstrate that the room for maneuvering of SOKOJ and other collective organizations has become more limited. ANEM expects these organizations to act responsibly and guard the collective protection system from excessive intervention by the government.

ANEM will also demand a meeting with the Intellectual Property Office with the aim to assess the results of the implementation of the Law on Copyright and Related Rights from 2009. ANEM is of the opinion that the implementation of the Law and especially the activities of the Commission for Copyright and Related Rights have not lived up to expectations, regardless of how good the intentions behind the adoption of the Law were, and regardless of the fact that the legal model stipulated by the Law (that tariffs are to be mutually agreed or, if that is not possible, have to be evaluated and verified by the Commission for Copyright and Related Rights) is in fact an improvement from the previous situation. Therefore we consider that it is necessary to begin wide-ranging consultations with all stakeholders about the necessary changes of the law.

ANEM calls on its members, as well as all other broadcasters in Serbia, to have in mind that their protest should not jeopardize the role of the media in a democratic society, and that their actions must not be detrimental to needs and interests of readers and viewers. ANEM condemns the hacking attack on the website of SOKOJ and demands that the website be immediately returned to its normal functioning state. ANEM is of the opinion that the first new information to be posted on this website should be an announcement by SOKOJ that it intends to begin new negotiations with broadcasters and abandon the new tariff.

ANEM President, Sasa Mirkovic

Belgrade, January 27, 2011. - The Association of Independent Electronic Media (ANEM) hereby protests over the ruling by the Administrative Court of Serbia rejecting ANEM's complaint against the Commission for Copyright and Related Rights, in which ANEM requested from the Court to review and revoke the Opinion of the Commission based on which the new Tariff of SOKOJ's fees, which is extremely unfavorable for electronic media, came into force.

ANEM reminds that it has participated in the negotiations with SOKOJ, as the representative broadcasters' association. These negotiations were expected to result in an agreement about the Tariff. Since the negotiations were not successful, which is solely SOKOJ's fault in ANEM's opinion, SOKOJ addressed the Commission, proposing the issuance of a positive opinion about its Tariff Proposal. After having considered ANEM's objections, the Commission refused to support the first SOKOJ's Tariff Proposal and ordered renewing negotiations. After the failure of the renewed negotiations, SOKOJ tabled a new Tariff Proposal to the Commission, which remains utterly unfavorable for broadcasters and also, ANEM believes, in disagreement with the Law. The Commission decided to reject ANEM's arguments and passed an Opinion supporting new SOKOJ's Tariff Proposal.

After ANEM had requested court protection in trying to prove that the Commission's Opinion on new SOKOJ's Tariff Proposal was not based on the Law, the Chamber of the Administrative Court of Serbia, consisting of judges Jadranka Injac, Biljana Tamburkovski Bakovic and Jelena Tisma Jovanovic decided to deny such protection and reject ANEM's complaint as precluded, for reasons ANEM deems to be unacceptable.

In that way, radio and TV broadcasters in Serbia were denied protection from an utterly non-transparent and arbitrary procedure, in which ANEM was not even furnished SOKOJ's last Tariff Proposal. ANEM hence did not even have the opportunity to pronounce itself on the said proposal. On the other hand, in this procedure, the Commission failed to consider whether the Tariff was aligned with legal regulations, but instead opted to believe SOKOJ's unsupported claim that the Tariff had been passed in accordance with the standards that were explained to be "mainly generally recognized internationally and based on the principles and recommendations of the World Intellectual Property Organization and CISAC". These "generally recognized international standards" are now threatening to endanger the survival of particularly smaller and economically vulnerable local media, since the new Tariff involves a multiple increase of the minimum fee they are paying.

ANEM may not accept the decision of the Administrative Court to disallow the revision of the SOKOJ's Tariff in court proceedings and shall continue to seek for a solution that will bring about the revoking thereof and a situation in which Serbia will be ruled by Law and not by "mainly generally recognized standards", which were left unsubstantiated or undocumented and which typically lead to the suppressing the weakest and most vulnerable in the media community.

Sasa Mirkovic, ANEM President

Joint statement by IJAS (NUNS), JAS (UNS), IJAV (NDNV), ANEM and Local Press

Belgrade, December 20, 2011 - Coalition of journalists' and media associations (IJAS, JAS, IJAV, ANEM and Local Press) strongly protests over the way in which the Serbian Government intends to implement a decision on allocation of 368 million RSD. Namely, these funds will not be allocated through project financing, in accordance with the public interest, but directly to the media - budget users, primarily to the Public Company Tanjug news agency.

With this decision, the Serbian Government has violated the basic principles stipulated in the recently adopted Media Strategy, as well as the relevant regulations on state aid and its control, thus infringing the principle of equality on the media market. This decision is contrary to the key position of the European Commission that public interest must be clearly defined in each grant of the state aid.

Given the fact that the Tanjug agency is financed by taxpayers' money and, at the same time, is operating on the market, this decision of the Serbian Government continues to promote the principle of unfair competition, additionally jeopardizing the operations of the other two news agencies. Instead of working on ensuring equal conditions on the market, in line with its commitments, the state continues the practice of funding the media in its ownership, completely ignoring the public interest and violating free market principles and the ones advocated by the EU. It seems that the ultimate goal of this decision is to shut down Tanjug competition and establish a state monopoly in the sphere of news agencies.

The media coalition is unsure whether this decision means that the Serbian Government has completely given up on the Media Strategy even before its implementation has begun, or it has dropped down the concept of creating equal conditions for all media on the market. If so, the coalition urges the Government to publicly declare it.

Independent Journalists' Association of Serbia (NUNS)

Journalists' Association of Serbia (UNS)

Independent Journalists' Association of Vojvodina (NDNV)

Association of Independent Electronic Media (ANEM)

Association of Independent Local Media (Local Press)

Belgrade, December 14, 2011 - The Association of Independent Electronic Media has requested the Parliament of Serbia not to pass the Draft Law on Cinematography it has received from the Government for adoption. This Law provides for the reallocation of the funds collected by the Republic Broadcasting Agency (RBA) and the Republic Agency for Electronic Communications (RATEL) from broadcasters and telecommunications operators to the film industry.

The explanation of the Government's Draft Law says that its passage will provide for significant additional resources that will boost the national film industry, among other means by obtaining part of the funds gained from the fees the broadcasters are paying to the RBA for broadcasting rights, under the Broadcasting Law, as well as the funds gained from the fees charged by RATEL to public telecommunication operators. More specifically, the new Law stipulates that up to 20% of the fees collected by the RBA and up to 10% of the fees collected by RATEL, will be allocated to the film industry.

ANEM believes that the passage of such Draft Law, without analyzing the effects it could have on the financing of independent regulatory bodies, as well as on the broadcasting and electronic communications sectors in Serbia, would be utterly irresponsible and harmful. ANEM has been insisting for years that the amounts of the fees paid by broadcasters to the regulatory agencies must be reduced so as to cover the reasonable regulation costs. Any other fee charged to the broadcasters, in excess of that, would lead to the collapse of the already impoverished media, which would, in turn, lead to a media blackout in Serbia.

While it understands the rationale of helping the development of the film industry, ANEM believes it is completely unacceptable to do it by reducing the funds that are the guarantee of the media sector regulators' financial independence. By providing for that up to 20% of the aforementioned fees be allocated for the development of the film industry, the amount of fees for broadcasting would inevitably go up; the same would happen with the prices of telecommunication services, if RATEL collected fees are reallocated. This is completely in contravention with the recently adopted Media Strategy, a document committing the state to work on the institutional strengthening of the broadcasting regulatory body and by regulating the financing of this body to enable its smooth and independent operation. The state also committed to encourage technological innovation in the media sector, as well as the development of new media platforms. All this is undoubtedly incompatible with the introduction of additional charges on the fees collected by telecommunication operators.

ANEM President, Sasa Mirkovic

Joint statement by ANEM, UNS, NUNS, NDNV and Local Press

November 28, 2011 - The Association of Independent Electronic Media (ANEM), Journalists' Association of Serbia (UNS), Independent Journalists' Association of Serbia (NUNS), Independent Journalists' Association of Vojvodina (NDNV) and Local Press demand protection for one of ANEM members, Radio Ema from Bujanovac, and its owner and director, Oliver Trajkovic. They received a letter of warning last week, ordering them to pay fines in the total amount of 250.000 RSD. Oliver Trajkovic has been informed of the possibility that the fine might be replaced by a prison sentence.

These penalties are a result of legal proceedings related to an economic misdemeanor and initiated by the prosecutor's office on the basis of a claim submitted by OFPS. The claim alleges that the station had failed to deliver proper musical files with a complete list of the music aired by the station. The Commercial Court in Leskovac fined Radio Ema with 200.000 RSD, while Oliver Trajkovic as a responsible person was fined with another 50.000 dinars.

In the meantime, appeals and requests for a retrial submitted by Oliver Trajkovic and Radio Ema have been rejected. The Court has failed to take into account the fact that at the time during which, according to charges, Radio Ema was not delivering the lists of aired music to OFPS, the Rulebook and the Tariff issued by OPFS itself had stipulated two completely different and mutually exclusive procedures for delivery of the lists. At the same time, the Rulebook was illegal and contrary to the Constitution, as was later established by the Intellectual Property Office.

In their request for a retrial, Oliver Trajkovic and Radio Ema pointed out that the verdict against them was passed in January 2011 and that therefore they were not able to submit a Notice issued by the Intellectual Property Office as evidence in their defense. The Intellectual Property Office has a monitoring authority and, in March this year, it issued the Notice ordering OFPS to change the provisions of its disputed Rulebook because it was contrary to law and the Constitution. Acting on the Office's demand, OFPS modified its Rulebook in April. However, the Commercial Court in Leskovac has not deemed this a ground for a retrial.

As a result of these absurd circumstances, a situation has been created in which a state body, the Intellectual Property Office, declares the OFPS Rulebook regulating the delivery of musical lists as illegal, while at the same time the Commercial Court in Leskovac punishes Radio Ema and Oliver Trajkovic for their failure to adhere to the very same - and illegal - Rulebook, and orders them to pay astronomical fines, which they cannot afford to pay. Trajkovic has also received a letter warning him that the fine might be replaced with a prison sentence.

Media and journalists' associations call on the authorities to find a solution to annul this obviously illegal verdict, save Radio Ema from closure and Oliver Trajkovic from being imprisoned.

ANEM President,

Sasa Mirkovic

Belgrade, November 11, 2011 - The Association of Independent Electronic Media (ANEM), the Journalists' Association of Serbia (UNS), the Independent Journalists' Association of Serbia (NUNS), the Independent Journalists' Association of Vojvodina (NDNV) and Local press urge the Government of the Republic of Serbia to reject the proposal made by Radio-Television Serbia (RTS) and the Republic Agency for Electronic Communications (RATEL) to write off the debt of RTS of non-paid fees for the use of radio frequencies.

Journalists' and media associations point out that, should the Serbian Government adopt such proposal, not only would it violate the Broadcasting Law and the Law on Electronic Communications that provide for the obligation to pay the said fee, but it would also act in contrary to its own commitments made in the recently adopted Media Strategy. We remind that, according to the Strategy, the Republic of Serbia is obliged to stimulate the development of the media market and to create non-discriminatory conditions for healthy competition in the media industry and its sustainable development. The Republic of Serbia is also under obligation to ensure that public broadcasting services are financed in accordance with regulations related to the control of state assistance. Journalists' and media associations emphasize that the frequency spectrum is a public resource that belongs to citizens, and that fees for frequencies constitute public revenue. Writing off of the debt related to usage of radio frequencies in this specific case would result in reduction of public revenues and allow the RTS to achieve a better position in the market in comparison with its competitors. Such an outcome would disrupt competition in the market and constitute impermissible state aid, according to the provisions of the Law on the Control of State Aid.

Journalists' and media associations point out that the Public Broadcasting Service has already been liberated of the obligation to pay the fees for the broadcasting rights, which are paid by commercial radio and TV stations. Liberation of its obligation to pay fees for using broadcasting frequencies would additionally discriminate commercial stations and jeopardize the competition in the media market. The Media Strategy stipulates that financing of the Public Broadcasting Service from the state budget requires that a range of criteria be fulfilled, the following among them: a far clearer definition of the role and obligations of the Public Broadcasting Service; monitoring of the realization of such role and fulfillment of obligations; financial control of the operations of the Public Broadcasting Service; publication of results of such control; proportionality between financing and its obligations; forbidden excessive financing of the Public Broadcasting Service, while taking into account its commercial revenue. An additional criterion stipulated by the Media Strategy relates to the behavior of RTS in the market, which must not be contrary to regulations on protection of competition. None of these criteria from the recently adopted Media Strategy has been fulfilled in this case.

Journalists' and media associations explain that the reason for writing off of the debt related to the use of radio frequencies stated by RATEL and RTS - the alleged damage suffered by RTS because of separation of the transmission equipment section and creation of a separate public company - is completely unfounded. The truth is quite the opposite: the state and its budget have suffered losses for years because RTS has never concluded a contract with the Republic Property Directorate after the adoption of the Broadcasting Law. The contract would have regulated the use of state-owned facilities and broadcasting infrastructure. RTS has not only been using the state's broadcasting infrastructure for years without any contracts and without paying any fees, but it has also leased the infrastructure and retained the income instead of allocating it to the state budget.

Journalists' and media associations call on the Government to immediately begin implementation of all solutions provided in the Media Strategy, particularly the ones related to the new model of project financing of the public interest in the media sector, instead of deciding to write off debt of a media and thus putting it in an even more privileged position compared to other media outlets. The Government has accepted obligation to implement these solutions as of January 1, 2012.

ANEM President, Sasa Mirkovic

Belgrade, November 1, 2011 - The Association of Independent Electronic Media (ANEM) calls on the Serbian Parliament's Culture and Information Committee to act in accordance with its legal obligations, recent demands of the public and to initiate the procedure for election of the Commissioner for Information of Public Importance by its own proposal to the Parliament. At the same time, ANEM emphasizes that Rodoljub Sabic deserves a second term in office because of his exceptional professional qualities and achieved results.

ANEM points out that the current Commissioner's term in office expires in two months time, and that the Committee's inexplicable failure to act on this issue in accordance with its legal obligations and authority could jeopardize the protection of the right to free access to information of public importance and protection of personal data, which also falls under the competence of the Commissioner.

ANEM is of opinion that, while proposing a candidate for the position of the Commissioner, the Culture and Information Committee must take into account the results achieved by Rodoljub Sabic in the course of his activities as the Commissioner; his reputation and position that he has ensured for the his institution and the successful promotion of the rights the Commissioner is tasked to protect, as well as raising of public awareness about them. Therefore ANEM fully supports the proposal that Rodoljub Sabic be re-elected for a new term in this position. The proposal has been submitted to the competent Commission by the Coalition of Non-Governmental Organizations for Free Access to Information.

ANEM emphasizes that re-election of Rodoljub Sabic is especially important for the media in the context of the recently adopted Strategy for Development of the Public Information System in the Republic of Serbia until 2016. The Strategy obliges the Republic of Serbia to improve the access to institutional sources of information and availability of information of public importance. At this time, re-election of Rodoljub Sabic would be the best way for Serbia to reaffirm its commitment to this strategic goal.

Sasa Mirkovic, ANEM President

Belgrade, October 18, 2011 - The Association of Independent Electronic Media (ANEM) strongly protests against the series of attacks on a member of the Association, Radio-Television Prima from Bajina Basta.

Near the end of the last week and during the weekend, the studio of Radio-Television Prima from Bajina Basta was pelted with stones. Several windows on the building were broken and three tires slit on the company's car. Radio-Television Prima said that this had been the third attack on their company vehicle in the last three months.

ANEM points out that pressure on the media and attempts to their abuse are increasing in the run-up to parliamentary and local elections. All means are being used, from "friendly suggestions", economic pressure to open threats and violent attacks.

ANEM urges the authorities to immediately investigate the background of attacks on Radio-Television Prima from Bajina Basta and punish the perpetrators. This is necessary to prevent the transition from vandalistic attacks on property of the media to physical attacks on journalists and editors themselves.

ANEM expresses its full solidarity with Radio-Television Prima staff, as well as those of all other media outlets that have been exposed to threats and pressure because of the nature of their work. ANEM demands that the state authorities and the local self-government in Bajina Basta, as well as all other regions in Serbia where journalists have been threatened, take all necessary measures to guarantee the safety of journalists and their editorial offices, and to ensure appropriate environment for exercise of the right to freedom of expression, media operations and full realization of their role in the democratic society. Realization of that role requires facilitating a widest possible public debate on all issues of public interest, which would take place without any fear for personal safety of all its participants.

Sasa Mirkovic, ANEM President

Belgrade, September 14, 2011 - The Working Group formed by the Prime Minister, Mirko Cvetkovic, harmonized, on September 8, the Draft Media Strategy of Serbia with the adopted amendments of the media sector, except in the section related to establishment of regional public service broadcasting.

Journalists' organizations, the Independent Journalists' Association of Serbia (NUNS), the Journalists' Association of Serbia (UNS), the Independent Journalists' Association of Vojvodina (NDNV), and media associations, namely the Association of Independent Electronic Media (ANEM), Local Press and the Media Association, welcome the fact that the long-lasting process of preparation of the Media Strategy of Serbia is nearing completion.

The media sector expects that the adoption of the document will result in introduction of rules and standards in the chaotic media scene of Serbia.

Media and journalists' associations have invested enormous efforts in crucial modifications of this significant document. Numerous compromises have been made with the aim to allow its final completion.

Media associations and journalists' organizations are satisfied with some of the document's provisions, but are cautiously reserved with regard to its other provisions. At the same time, they consider the section of the Draft Media Strategy that is related to regional public service broadcasting completely unacceptable and practically unsustainable.

The media sector demands that this section of the Draft Media Strategy be completely revoked and that the legal regulations related to public service broadcasting be thoroughly redefined.

The media sector had insisted on adoption of seven amendments as a condition for its participation in the activities of the Working Group. However, the amendment on regional public service broadcasting was rejected, while the other amendments have been adopted, with certain modifications.

The media sector demands that all imprecise definitions be removed from the final text of the Media Strategy, since they would allow subsequent ambiguous interpretations by the government and differing legal procedures, mostly with regard to media ownership and withdrawal of the state from media ownership.

Journalists' and media associations are also dissatisfied with the fact that, according to the proposed Strategy, National Councils of National Minorities will be allowed to establish media outlets - and not only print media outlets. They are concerned with the possibility that the proposed provisions would allow the National Councils to monopolize informing of minorities, especially since the proposed Strategy offers almost no guarantees that editorial independence and objectivity of these media outlets would be protected.

The media sector insists that the already harmonized fundamental demands of journalists' organizations and media associations remain unchanged during the final consultations within the Government of Serbia and adoption of the proposed Strategy by the Government, including the demands related to protection of competition and introduction of European rules on state aid as of January 1, 2012.

Journalists' and media associations reserve the right to voice their individual opinions about the Media Strategy after the adoption of the executive document by the Government of Serbia.

Media associations and journalists' organizations will continue to actively monitor the implementation of the Media Strategy and do everything in their power to achieve its full realization.

The Working Group for drafting the text of the Draft Media Strategy until 2016 was formed by the Prime Minister, Mirko Cvetkovic, at the initiative of the Ministry of Culture, Media and Information Society, comprised of the following members: the president of the Group, Dragana Milicevic Milutinovic (the state secretary of the Ministry of Culture, Media and Information Society), Irini Reljin (The Ministry of Culture, Media and Information Society), Goran Radosavljevic (The Ministry of Finance), Srdjan Majstorovic (The Office for European Integration), Jelena Trivan (The Parliament's Culture and Information Committee), Dragan Penezic (The Commission for Protection of Competition), Ranka Vujovic (The Republic Secretariat for Legislation), Zoran Sekulic (representative of the media sector) and Sandra Basic Hrvatin (the European Commission expert).

During the period August 22 - September 8, 2011, six meetings of the Working Group were held, with participation of the representatives of the Delegation of the European Union in Serbia and joined by the OSCE representatives at later point.

The formation of the Working Group was preceded by a public discussion about the Draft Media Strategy, organized in the period June 1 and July 15, 2011.

The Draft Media Strategy was prepared during the period April 20 - June 1, by the originally formed seven-member Working Group of Experts of the Ministry of Culture, Media and Information Society, with five representatives of journalists' organizations and associations and two representatives of the Ministry.

Belgrade, August 3, 2011 - The Association of Independent Electronic Media supports the demand of the Commissioner for Information of Public Importance and Personal Data Protection, who has asked the Ministry of Culture, Media and Information Society to extend the deadline for completion of the public debate on the proposed Rulebook on Technical Requirements for Equipment and Program Support for Legal Interception of Electronic Communication and Storage of Electronic Communication Data. The Ministry had previously announced that the public debate would last only until August 4.

ANEM reminds that the Commissioner and the Ombudsman submitted, back in end September 2010, a Proposal for Assessment of the Constitutionality to the Constitutional Court in relation to the Law on Electronic Communications among other legislations, and, more specifically, with regard to its provisions on interception of electronic communication and storage of electronic communication data because they envisioned the possibility of suspension of confidentiality of communication even without a court order, which is explicitly stipulated in the Constitution.

The way too extensive authority over interception of electronic communication and unclear rules on who and under what conditions is allowed to access the electronic communication data stored by operators constitute a threat to human rights, especially with regard to the right to freedom of expression, since they limit the right of the media and journalists to, among other things, efficiently protect the confidentiality of their sources.

Adoption of any bylaws that constitute an extension of the legal provisions, whose constitutionality is questioned by the Commissioner for Personal Data Protection and the Ombudsman, especially during summer, when the attention of the public is reduced, and after a short public debate, is in itself a serious reason for concern. Therefore, ANEM supports the demand made by the Commissioner, Rodoljub Sabic, and urges the Ministry of Culture, Media and Information Society to extend the deadline for completion of the public debate, to invite representatives of the academic community, the media, the civil society and electronic service providers to participate in the debate, and to modify the provisions from the proposed Rulebook that opens space for possible serious violations of human rights and which has been justifiably criticized by the Commissioner, in a way that would harmonize them with the highest international standards on protection of these rights.

ANEM President, Sasa Mirkovic

Belgrade, July 28, 2011 - The Association of Independent Electronic Media strongly protests against hacking attacks on Radio City Nis web site by Albanian hackers.

The Radio City statement says that on  July 27, 2011, Albanian hackers known under the name of UAH CREW hacked the Radio City web site and left the message KOSOVO IS SHQIPERI (Kosovo is Albanian). The statement also says that the reason for the attack probably lies in the fact that this radio station broadcasts joint programs of network of local radio stations from Kosovo and central Serbia, named "Most Izvan Granica" ("Bridge beyond Borders"), which has been joined by the Radio City station. The project, within which the programs are aired, aims to examine the possibility of Albanians and Serbs in Kosovo living together and whether the independence or division could be solution to the Kosovo problem.

ANEM points out that such act creates an atmosphere in which the media are prevented from informing the public or to publicly discuss the issues that are relevant to joint existence of Albanians and Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija. ANEM emphasizes that the media dealing with these issues have to be protected from acts that make informing of the public and public debates about this issue impossible, especially having in mind that the project also includes local stations from Kosovo and local stations from central Serbia. ANEM warns that extremist attitudes and prevention or lack of dialogue and public discussion about all issues does not contribute to a better future of all people living in Serbia and Kosovo and Metohija.

ANEM expresses full solidarity with its member, Radio City from Nis and calls on the authorities in the Republic of Serbia and Kosovo to take all measures to prevent further obstruction of this project.

Sasa Mirkovic, ANEM President

Belgrade, July 27, 2011 - The Association of Independent Electronic Media strongly protests over the recent preventing of Timocka TV in Zajecar from reporting in a high-quality and consistent manner on current political and economic events in the municipality of Bor.

A statement issued by Timocka RTV says that its journalists and editors have been denied answers to their questions delivered to the Municipal Administration of Bor, related to official data on business conduct and other events in the municipality. At the same time, the statement says that the TV station's journalists and editors have not received any answers to their questions from the Bor Mining Basin, forcing them to acquire information of public importance in a much more difficult manner. On top of that, Timocka TV is forbidden from attending the sessions of the Municipal Assembly and the Municipal Council in Bor.

According to the statement, the TV station's terrestrial transmitter is regularly turned off when broadcasting programs related to current political and business events in the municipality of Bor. With increasing frequency, the TV station's interviewees have asked to remain anonymous because of the fear of losing their jobs, and even fear for their own safety and safety of their families.

ANEM emphasizes the need to protect the crucial principle of public informing and points out the fact that the law prohibits even indirect limiting of the freedom of public information, especially any limitations to the freedom of public information through abuse of official and private authority, or through the abuse of rights, influence or control over the broadcasting equipment or broadcasting frequencies, as well as via any other means that result in limiting of the free flow of ideas, information and opinions.

At the same time, ANEM reminds that everyone has the right to access to information of public importance, and strongly condemns the fact that journalists have not been allowed to access information that the public can and should be informed about.

ANEM expresses its full solidarity with its colleagues, journalists, and the editorial office of Timocka TV and urges the authorities to take all appropriate measures to ensure and preserve the fundamental role of the media in a democratic society, which is to report information of public importance and to publicly discuss them.

Sasa Mirkovic, ANEM President

Belgrade, July 15, 2011 - The Association of Independent Electronic Media condemns the unacceptable practice of removal of programs of local TV stations with valid broadcasting licenses from local packages of cable operators, as is the case with VK TV in Kikinda and TV K9 in Novi Sad.

ANEM considers that it is unacceptable that cable operators, justifying their behavior by economic or technical reasons, become the "bottleneck" and a limiting factor with regard to citizens' right to enjoy a wide range of media content, especially when it comes to their right to be informed about regional and local issues via local media.

ANEM reminds that the Draft Media Strategy, put to public debate by the Ministry of Culture, Media and Information Society, includes the commitment of the Republic of Serbia to oblige dominant operators to transmit certain content precisely with the aim to guarantee the citizens' right to be informed about issues of regional and local importance.

ANEM calls on the Serbian Government to immediately adopt the Media Strategy and to modify the legal framework that would prevent the transformation of the cable distribution system into a new bottleneck and a limiting factor in the exercise of the right to freedom of information. ANEM also urges regulatory bodies for broadcasting and electronic communications to consider the possibility of introducing certain conditions for issuance of cable licenses and distribution of media content in a way that would entail obligatory quotas for distribution of regional and local programs, especially those with valid licenses for terrestrial broadcasting.

ANEM considers unacceptable the practice of cable operators to apply unequal business conditions to same services with regard to various market participants, giving preference only to certain TV channels. As a rule, this practice almost always works against local TV channels with valid licenses for terrestrial broadcasting.

Sasa Mirkovic, ANEM President

Belgrade, June 20, 2011 - The Association of Independent Electronic Media (ANEM), the Independent Journalists' Association of Serbia (NUNS) and the Association of Independent Local Media (Local Press) welcome the publication of recommendations issued by the Ministry of Human and Minority Rights, Public Administration and Local Self-Government and the Ministry of Culture, Media and Information Society. The recommendations are intended for local self-governments and are related to allocation of budget funds dedicated to the public information system. However, these associations have some serious reservations about the content of the document.

ANEM, NUNS and Local Press remind that during the last year they had several meetings held with representatives of the two Ministries, aimed at discussing the regulation of financing of media from local self-government budgets. The associations had insisted on clear criteria and transparent procedures for allocation of these funds that would ensure non-discriminatory funding without favoring any local public media companies. On the other hand, the Ministries considered that the issuance of non-obligatory recommendations was the best solution that could be done at the moment.

Although mostly based on drafts proposed by the associations and seen as a step in the right direction since they have occurred at all and objectively the first attempt to regulate project-based media financing from the budget funds in accordance with the recently published Draft Media Strategy, the published document is, in the opinion of these associations, still an insufficient and modest step. The main problem with the published recommendations to local self-governments for allocation of budget funds intended for the local public information system is the fact that the recommendations, even though they are non-obligatory, have been additionally devalued by not being applied to all local budget funds for public information but only to their undetermined part. In this way, it would still be possible to continue financing media regardless of any public contests or any clearly-set criteria, using non-transparent procedures that are detrimental to free market competition and which favor obedient media and those owned or controlled by local self-governments.

As evidenced by the previous practice, this manner of media financing has resulted in reduced freedom of expression and closure of mostly private media (which are ineligible for these funds) that were exposed to unfair competition by state media - the non-transparent recipients of this money. On the other hand, this form of media financing has led to further strengthening of mechanisms of control and influence of local oligarchies over the non-privatized media companies, especially if we take into account the fact that the recommendations - contrary to the associations' proposals - envision that members of the Commissions that decide on allocation of the funds have to be representatives of local self-governments as well, which seriously jeopardizes independence and autonomy of the Commissions themselves.

ANEM, NUNS and Local Press will continue their activities aimed at adoption of the Media Strategy and regulation of the system of state aid to the media sector in a way that would not hinder free market competition and that would stimulate development of local media instead of allowing their further disappearance, while at the same time ensuring clear criteria for allocation of the funds and transparency of spending. With regard to the published recommendations, the associations will insist that the Ministries monitor their implementation and regularly inform the public about thus achieved results.

ANEM President, Sasa Mirkovic

Independent Journalists' Association of Serbia (NUNS), the Journalists' Association of Serbia (UNS), Association of Independent Electronic Media (ANEM), Independent Journalists' Association of Vojvodina (NDNV) and the Business Association "Local Press", commend the opening of public debate on the Draft Strategy for Development of Media in Serbia.

The text of the Draft, which is the basis for public discussion and submitted to the Ministry of Culture, Media and Information Society by the working group, is an important step towards regulation of the media sphere and improvement of principles of freedom of expression. The Draft contains solutions that offer the necessary shift from the current situation on the media scene that we all deem devastating and unsustainable.

The associations call on their members to take active part in round tables organized in Kragujevac, Novi Pazar, Novi Sad, Nis and Belgrade and to contribute to defining the objectives of the new Serbian media policy and the mechanisms for their achieving.

The five associations will continue to coordinate their activities and stands on issues important for the adoption of the Media Strategy, in order to ensure its consistency, sustainability and applicability, in the best interest of media professionals and the public.

The associations urge the Ministry of Culture, Media and Information Society to publish all written comments and suggestions of participants in the debate, as well as audio recordings or transcripts/minutes of all round tables, in the interests of the public and for the full awareness of all stakeholders of the progress and content of the public debate.

We remind that the first discussion will be held on Monday, June 13 in Kragujevac, and then on June 20 in Novi Pazar, June 23 in Novi Sad, June 24 in Nis and June 27 in Belgrade.

Belgrade, June 12, 2011.

Belgrade, June 8, 2011 - The Association of Independent Electronic Media (ANEM) strongly condemns the attack on Zeljko Tvrdisic, the editor-in-chief of an ANEM member, Radio "Kontakt Plus" from Kosovska Mitrovica.

Zeljko Tvrdisic, who is also the president of the Association of Journalists of Kosovo and Metohija and a correspondent of the Tanjug news agency, was attacked while reporting on the process of removal of illegally constructed buildings in Kosovska Mitrovica. The statement of Radio "Kontakt Plus" says that an owner of one of illegally constructed shops, Zoran Katanic, hit Tvrdisic in the head without any provocation and insulted him. The statement also says that, in the end of December 2009, when the Government of the Republic of Serbia had adopted the decision on dissolution of the Assembly of Kosovska Mitrovica Municipality and formation of the temporary council of the municipality, Zoran Katanic was one of the appointed members of the temporary council from the G17 political party. Tvrdisic announced pressing criminal charges against Katanic, while the case was reported to the Kosovo Police and the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Serbia.

ANEM notes that physical attacks and insults aimed against journalists on assignments create an atmosphere of fear, in which the media are limited in informing the public on issues of public interest. It is of utmost importance for the informing of the Serbian community in Kosovo that the activities of journalists and local media outlets are not jeopardized by fear related to their physical integrity and personal safety.

ANEM expresses its full solidarity with everyone who is exposed to threats and attacks for practicing journalism and calls on the authorities to investigate all circumstances of the attack on Zeljko Tvrdisic, to inform the public on the results of the investigation and to prosecute the perpetrators.

ANEM President, Sasa Mirkovic

Belgrade, May 9, 2011 - The Association of Independent Electronic Media (ANEM) strongly protests over the outcome of the first-instance legal proceedings against the attackers on B92 cameraman, Bosko Brankovic.

Brankovic was assaulted and seriously injured during reporting from the rally protesting against the arrest of Radovan Karadzic, organized on July 24, 2008 in Belgrade. The media reported that the attack on Brankovic was caused by his recording of the attack on his colleague, a reporter of FoNet. The Council of the First Primary Court in Belgrade, presided by Judge Ana Trifunovic, has sentenced Milan Savatovic today to 10 months of house arrest after establishing that he kicked Brankovic's camera and his right shoulder, causing him to fall to the ground. Stefan Milicevic and Nikola Lazic, who approached Brankovic and started beating him, together with several other unidentified suspects, were sentenced to 6 months of prison or a 3-year on probation. As a consequence of their actions, Brankovic suffered a broken knee joint.

ANEM points out that these sentences are inappropriate and too light, not only considering to the seriousness of the injury suffered by Brankovic, but also considering the degree of violation of the freedom of expression and media freedoms by such brutal attack on journalists and cameramen who were performing their jobs. Unfortunately, Serbian judiciary continues to show a lack of understanding for importance of the media freedom in a democratic society, as well as a disregard not only for physical integrity and safety of journalists, cameramen and photo reporters, but also for the right of the public to be informed about the issues of public interest.

Inappropriate sentences for attackers on journalists and other media professionals, which have become common in Serbia, are a serious impediment to the freedom of expression, and instead of sending a message to attackers that violence against journalists, cameramen and photo reporters is unacceptable, these verdicts send a message to the media that some issues are better not to be reported on.

ANEM expresses its full solidarity with Bosko Brankovic and all other journalists and media workers who have been exposed to threats and attacks because of their jobs, and calls on the authorities to act more responsibly to protect the right to freedom of expression and full realization of the role of the media in a democratic society. ANEM demands that the competent First Primary Prosecutor's Office in Belgrade appeal to this verdict against the attackers on our colleague.

ANEM President, Sasa Mirkovic

The Association of Independent Electronic Media (ANEM) strenuously protests over the enormous damage claims and legal threats against the ANEM-member station, the Novi Sad-based Radio 021.

Radio 021's press release says that the Director of the public utility company "Water Management and Sewerage" in Novi Sad, Branko Bjelajac, has claimed one million dinars of damages, threatening to file a lawsuit. In the memo signed by his attorney, Bjelajac is claiming the said amount over the comments posted by the visitors of the website of the radio station www.021.rs, to the news that the State Audit Institution has started an audit of the business of the public utility company "Water Management and Sewerage".

The memo particularly emphasized a comment saying that the citizens of Novi Sad drank the worst water in the region, "enriched" by worms and heavy metals. Bjelajac accuses Radio 021 of "disturbing the citizens" by posting such a comment. Paradoxically, it seems that Bjelajac believes that the citizens must be reassured by him getting one million dinars in damages.

In an era where exercising the right to freedom of expression transcends the mere duty of the state to refrain from restricting anyone's right to collect, receive and communicate information, involving rather the obligation to give an active contribution and incentive to quality information for the citizens, ANEM believes it is completely unacceptable that the state, through the representatives of government or persons appointed by the government on management position in state institutions or public companies, actually narrows down the space for a public debate in the media about matters of public interest, by allowing that the said representatives or persons threaten the media with ridiculous damage claims.

Issues related to the financial operations of public companies, and particularly those concerning the quality and suitability of drinking water in Serbia, are definitively such matters. That said, the presence of nematode worms in the controlled sample of drinking water from the tank of the water plant in Novi Sad's water system and sewerage was confirmed last summer by the Public Health Institute of Vojvodina. Moreover, the latest report on the fitness of drinking water in Novi Sad, available on the website of the Public Health Institute of Vojvodina, dates back from December last year. According to that report, 33.41% controlled samples from the tank of the water plant in Novi Sad's water and sewerage system of the public utility company "Water Management and Sewerage" were established to be physically and chemically unfit, with the most frequent cause of such unfitness being the increased concentration of manganese.

ANEM wishes to express its full solidarity with the journalists and editors of Radio 021 and calls upon the competent authorities in Novi Sad to review, condemn and sanction the unacceptable actions of persons appointed to the managing positions in public utility companies. In the interest of further democratization of society, ANEM believes that conditions need to be ensured for the citizens to be fully informed about matters of public interest, without journalists fearing legal prosecution, which ultimately leads to self-censorship.

ANEM President, Sasa Mirkovic

Belgrade, March 30, 2011 - The Association of Independent Electronic Media (ANEM) is protesting over the criminal sentence for libel against the owner, Director and Responsible Editor of Radio Ozon from Cacak - ANEM member station.

The Primary Court in Cacak found that Stojan Markovic, with his comment "The Time for Settling the Bills has Come: Davidovic, Jocic, Sarancic... the Next one be Ready..." and the satire "The Impotent Mandarin" published in Cacanske novine, is guilty of slander against the former minister Velimir Ilic. Markovic was fined with 100.000 dinars.

We remind that in April last year, the Higher Court in Cacak ordered Markovic to pay Ilic 180.000 dinars of damages over the same texts published in February 2009, for anguish and suffering due to damaged honor and reputation. In the meantime, the Appellate Court upheld that decisions, while Stojan Markovic appealed with the Constitutional Court and the related proceedings are still underway.

ANEM finds it unacceptable to have court decisions in litigation or libel proceedings restricting freedom of expression, particularly over critical or satiric texts about high state officials or politicians, as in the case of Markovic and Ilic. We hereby remind that Ilic was, until July 2008, a minister in the Government of the Republic of Serbia. Prior to that, he was for a long time at the helm of the local government and the Mayor of Cacak, the town in which the controversial texts were published in the first place. Ilic is also the President of Nova Srbija, a parliamentary party with nine MPs in the current Serbian Parliament.

Court decisions which do not seem to take into consideration the legally provided restriction to the protection of privacy of state officials and politicians in the case of information that are relevant to the citizens in view of the positions occupied by such persons, and particularly criminal sentences disregarding the right to substantiated criticism by journalists, are threatening to undermine the basic function of the media in democratic society - to inform the public about matters the public is entitled to know - as well as to additionally hamper the Serbian media with the already rife self-censorship.

ANEM is expressing its full solidarity with Stojan Markovic and calls the competent institutions to invest additional efforts to have the constitutional guarantee of freedom of expression apply to everyone and to have the courts interpret the provisions about human and minority rights with a view to improve the values of democratic society and in accordance with the applicable international standards and practice, in order for these values not to remain only a dead letter on paper.

ANEM President, Sasa Mirkovic

Belgrade, March 2, 2011 - The Association of Independent Electronic Media (ANEM) strongly protests against the state's inability to tackle the problems that exist in the media sector and further delays in adoption of the Media Strategy.

Employees of Radio Sombor, a member of ANEM, have not received any salaries for more than a year. After losing its connection to phone and internet networks due to accumulated debt, on February 25, the station has been cut off from the power grid due to unpaid bills, which caused cease of airing of its program.

ANEM points out that after the privatization of the station had been revoked, the state's representative of public capital - appointed by the Privatization Agency - has been running Radio Sombor for no less than three years. The state's management decisions resulted in station's debts being almost four times larger than its assets, while the last of the appointed directors has resigned only a month after accepting the duty.

ANEM is of the opinion that the long agony of Radio Sombor constitutes another proof that the state lacks any concept or plan of action in the media sector. At the same time, the Ministry of Culture had wasted time on (as it turned out later) unconstitutional amendments to the Public Information Law, as well as on hiring of numerous consultants in the process of preparation of the Media Strategy. The result of the work of these consultants has not yet been presented to the public. The Strategy, which was promised to media professionals back in the summer of 2009, is supposed to offer a solution for local and regional radio and TV stations, and to propose sustainable models for state's withdrawal from media ownership. Its adoption may come too late for Radio Sombor and for many other media outlets in Serbia that are nearing closure or have already been shut down.

ANEM President, Sasa Mirkovic