OSCE Mission concerned over Serbian Broadcasting Council's policy on licences
(ZOOM PRESS)The OSCE Mission in Serbia and Montenegro supports major media projects, such
as the transformation of Radio Television Serbia into a public
broadcasting service. (ZOOM PRESS) Photo details
BELGRADE, 26 May 2006 - The OSCE Mission to Serbia and Montenegro today issued the following statement:
"The OSCE Mission to Serbia and Montenegro is alarmed by recent activities of the Republican Broadcasting Agency (RBA) Council. While the OSCE acknowledges the fact that an independent regulatory body should be entrusted with the authority to allocate broadcasting licences, it calls on the Council to respect national law and international standards, as well as decisions of judicial bodies such as the Supreme Court.
The temporary suspension of a broadcasting licence on questionable grounds and the de facto continuation of the suspension despite a Supreme Court decision raise serious concerns. Any arbitrary action taken to limit or impede the right to freedom of expression and freedom of the media is unacceptable.
The hasty decision of the RBA Council to reject all appeals lodged by unsuccessful applicants in the public tender for national broadcasting licences has raised concerns by the OSCE Mission that due consideration might not have been granted to those appeals.
Recent decisions on the allocation of broadcasting licences represent a matter of high public importance for the Republic of Serbia and any legal or procedural flaws in this process would have grave consequences. The OSCE Mission shares a number of concerns expressed by independent experts and professional associations about partial or incorrect application of regulations and criteria governing the granting of broadcasting licences in the decision-making process.
Those decisions are now subject to judicial review and the rule of law must prevail.
Any failure to comply fully with the applicable Serbian legislation, the European Convention for Human Rights and relevant international case law in the issuance of broadcasting licences would be highly damaging for Serbia.
Ultimately, the RBA Council must be accountable to Serbian society, on behalf of which it carries out the licensing of commercial broadcasters."
"The OSCE Mission to Serbia and Montenegro is alarmed by recent activities of the Republican Broadcasting Agency (RBA) Council. While the OSCE acknowledges the fact that an independent regulatory body should be entrusted with the authority to allocate broadcasting licences, it calls on the Council to respect national law and international standards, as well as decisions of judicial bodies such as the Supreme Court.
The temporary suspension of a broadcasting licence on questionable grounds and the de facto continuation of the suspension despite a Supreme Court decision raise serious concerns. Any arbitrary action taken to limit or impede the right to freedom of expression and freedom of the media is unacceptable.
The hasty decision of the RBA Council to reject all appeals lodged by unsuccessful applicants in the public tender for national broadcasting licences has raised concerns by the OSCE Mission that due consideration might not have been granted to those appeals.
Recent decisions on the allocation of broadcasting licences represent a matter of high public importance for the Republic of Serbia and any legal or procedural flaws in this process would have grave consequences. The OSCE Mission shares a number of concerns expressed by independent experts and professional associations about partial or incorrect application of regulations and criteria governing the granting of broadcasting licences in the decision-making process.
Those decisions are now subject to judicial review and the rule of law must prevail.
Any failure to comply fully with the applicable Serbian legislation, the European Convention for Human Rights and relevant international case law in the issuance of broadcasting licences would be highly damaging for Serbia.
Ultimately, the RBA Council must be accountable to Serbian society, on behalf of which it carries out the licensing of commercial broadcasters."