14. 10. 2008
NUNS AND ANEM DEMAND STATUTE PROVISION WHICH ALLOWS CITY OF BELGRADE TO OWN MEDIA TO BE WITHDRAWN, INITIATIVE SUPPORTED BY LOCAL PRESS, NDNV AND UNS
The Independent Association of Journalists of Serbia (NUNS) and the Association of Independent Electronic Media (ANEM) requested from the Assembly of the City of Belgrade to delete the clause from Article 26, paragraph 1, point 5 of the Draft Statute of the City of Belgrade. The Article 26 of the Draft Statute authorizes the City of Belgrade to found television and radio stations, newspapers and other means of public information. The Draft Statute was adopted at the session of September 16, 2008 and forwarded to a public debate.
NUNS and ANEM stressed to the Assembly that, according to the Article 14, Paragraph 2 of the Public Information Law, the state, territorial autonomy, or those institutions, companies or other legal persons whose majority of shares is owned by the state, or are fully or primarily funded by the public revenues, could not found the media. For these reasons, the controversial clause of the Draft Statute was obviously unlawful, stressed NUNS and ANEM.
NUNS and ANEM believe that the suggested Draft Statute of the City of Belgrade of September 16, 2008 constitutes a serious limitation to the right to freedom of expression which includes the freedom to hold opinion, receive or impart information and ideas without the intervention of public authorities and which is guaranteed by the Constitution of the Republic of Serbia and ratified international treaties, such as the International Covenant of Civil and Political Rights and the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, as the right.
In case the Assembly of the City of Belgrade disregarded the request to delete the controversial clause from the Draft Statute, NUNS and ANEM would resort to all available legal means in order to remedy violation of the freedom of expression.
Initiative has been supported by Association of Independent Local Media – Local Press, Independent Journalists’ Association of Vojvodina (NDNV) and Journalists’ Assocation of Serbia (UNS).
NUNS President, Nadezda Gace
ANEM Chairman, Sasa Mirkovic
ANEM and NUNS Initiative has been supported by:
Association of Independent Local Media – Local Press
Independent Journalists’ Association of Vojvodina - NDNV
Journalists’ Assocation of Serbia - UNS
South East European Network of Associations of Private Broadcasters - SEENAPB
More information:
* Download NUNS and ANEM's Letter to the City Assembly
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