ANEM Opposed to Changes and Amendments of the Broadcasting Law

ANEM

25 August 2005

The Association of Independent Electronic Media � ANEM believes that the adoption of changes and amendments to the Broadcasting Law, as proposed by the Government of Serbia, may have serious negative consequences.

Two weeks ago, the Reporters sans frontieres also expressed their concernt over the Government�s proposal of the 2002 Broadcasting Law. According to RSF, the proposed changes could lead to further postponement of the necessary reforms in the braodcasting sector, which will jeopardize the independence of the media in general.

ANEM appealed to the Members of the Skupstina to reject the proposed changes. According to the Association, they won�t save RTS (the public broadcasting service) from going bankrupt, and will only provide for the Governmetn to maintain its influence on the media in Serbia.

The Parliamentary Committee on Culture and Information, at the session held yesterday, didn�t allow ANEM representatives to present their points and objections to the proposed changes, claims ANEM.

"There are no guarantees that RTS would truly transform itself, even if it won the right to collect the broadcasting fee prior to the transition period, while it is still state-owned media under direct Governmental control�, says ANEM.

ANEM estimates that there are no obstacles to start the transformation of RTS in accordance with the existing legislation, as well as to prepare the competition for broadcasting permits, which will only be slowed down by the changes and amendments.