OSCE, EU ambassadors warn of attacks on journalists

OSCE Mission chief Jan Braathu told a regional conference on safety for journalists that every incident is cause for concern and added that attacks on journalists are a danger to the basic principles of democracy.

According to him, the safety of journalists and their unobstructed providing of information of public interest is a prerequisite of democracy, adding that the Serbian authorities are expected to conduct quick and efficient investigations into those attacks and punish the perpetrators.

He also expressed serious concern over the fact that two of the three murders of journalists in Serbia have not been solved.

EU Delegation chief Emanuel Giaufret told the conference that correct information is the basis of democracy and added that attacks on journalists endanger freedom and media staff pay a high price.

He warned that journalists face great danger from hate speech and called the Serbian authorities to provide a secure environment for journalists. Crimes against journalists must not go unpunished and the EU hopes that those crimes committed in the past will be solved, he said.