OSCE concerned about media in Balkans
30/07/2010
VIENNA, Austria -- OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Dunja Mijatovic delivered her first report Thursday (July 29th), outlining areas of concern in 56 countries worldwide, including some in the Balkans.
Mijatovic reminded authorities in Tirana that media is not their property and journalists should report on officials' wrongdoings. Specifically, she expressed concern about Top Channel TV being fined 400,000 euros for airing a tape showing former Minister of Culture Ylli Pango allegedly asking a young woman for sexual favours in exchange for a job.
Mijatovic also cited an instruction issued by Republika Srpska Prime Minister Milorad Dodik in early March, calling on public institutions to stop co-operating with public broadcaster RTVFBiH after it criticised government actions.
Another example cited was a proposal by Reis-ul-Ulema Mustafa effendi Ceric, the highest authority of the Islamic Community of Bosnia and Herzegovina, to establish a separate public TV channel in the Bosnian language, because a Croatian word was used in a news summary. Mijatovic also condemned the July 19th murder of Greek journalist Socratis Giolias and criticised the July 24th beating of Serbian journalist Teofil Pancic. Mijatovic also cited the high number of criminal prosecutions against journalists in Turkey. (OSCE website, Shekulli, Top Channel, Ora News, VoA, Balkan Web - 29/07/10)