OSCE Representative meets Serbian President Vučić, government, media representatives to discuss media freedom, marks 19th anniversary of murder of journalist Ćuruvija

BELGRADE, 11 April 2018 – OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Harlem Désir, met with President Aleksandar Vučić today in Belgrade to discuss media freedom issues in Serbia during a three-day official visit to the country.

The President and the Representative discussed the main media freedom related challenges in Serbia, including safety of journalists, combating impunity, media pluralism and the new media strategy in the country.

“The new media strategy will be essential for the future of Serbia’s media landscape. It must address issues of media ownership, transparency of financing, economic independence of the media, strengthen media pluralism and independence of the public broadcasters,” said Désir. “It is of the utmost importance that this strategy be developed and finalized in a most open and inclusive manner, together with all the relevant stakeholders.”

During his official visit, Désir is meeting Prime Minister Ana Brnabić, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Ivica Dačić and State Secretary in the Ministry of Culture Aleksandar Gajović.

“I value the open and constructive dialogue with the Serbian authorities, as well as the important exchanges with the journalists’ associations and media community,” said Désir. “My Office stands ready to assist Serbia in its process to adopt a new media strategy in support of media freedom in the country.”

Désir attended a memorial marking the 19th anniversary of the murder of prominent journalist Slavko Ćuruvija who was killed in front of his home in 1999. The Representative gave tribute to him and all those who have paid the ultimate price for their commitment to journalism.

“I call on the authorities to end impunity for crimes committed against journalists,” Désir stated.  “In this regards the work of the Commission for Investigating Killings of Journalists is crucial and should serve as a model for other countries facing such challenges in the OSCE region.”

The deaths of journalists Dada Vujasinović in 1994 and Milan Pantić in 2001 also remain unsolved. Désir will continue to support the authorities and the Commission in their search for the truth and to bring all those responsible to justice.

The Representative is also meeting with the main journalists’ associations in Serbia including the Journalist Association of Serbia (UNS) and the Independent Journalist Association of Serbia (NUNS), investigative journalists from networks including the Balkan Investigative Reporting Network (BIRN), the Crime and Corruption Reporting Network (KRIK), and the Centre for Investigative Journalism of Serbia (CINS), several media organizations, the public service broadcasters, the regulatory authority, the press council, and civil society throughout his three-day visit.

The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media observes media developments in all 57 OSCE participating States. He provides early warning on violations of freedom of expression and media freedom and promotes full compliance with OSCE media freedom commitments. Learn more at www.osce.org/fom, Twitter: @OSCE_RFoM and on www.facebook.com/osce.rfom.