OSCE Mission head: Impunity for crimes against journalists in Serbia must end

Addressing a media conference of the Association of Independent Electronic Media, Braathu said all those present understand the importance of media freedom and safety of journalists, and that OSCE is prepared to help the Serbian Government fulfill its obligations and the international conventions that it has accepted.

He said that, according to the information of the European Federation of Journalists, there are 48 unsolved cases of murders of journalists in Europe, of which three in Serbia - Slavko Curuvija, Milan Pantic and Dada Vujasinovic.

Unfortunately, threats and violence, as well as impunity, are present in all European Union countries, but that is no excuse for Serbia, he said. We recently witnessed an increase in the number of threats against journalists in Novi Sad, which makes us wonder what is happening in that city, said Braathu.

The ambassador particularly highlighted the threats against Ana Lalic Hegedis and Dinko Gruhonjic, leaders of the Independent Association of Vojvodina Journalists.

He reiterated that there must be no impunity for crimes against journalists.

Commenting on the activities of the Permanent Working Group for the Safety of Journalists, he said it is a mechanism that has no alternative.

Braathu added that the implementation of the Media Strategy and recently adopted media legislation is a step forward, but that he also sees challenges, and noted that the Regulatory Authority for Electronic Media (REM) needs to do its job, and that new members of the REM Council need to be appointed.