OSCE reacts to incident targeting its official

The head of the OSCE in Serbia has called for "respect and civility in public dialogue", after a debate organized with the assistance of the OSCE was disrupted.

Izvor: B92

Friday, 15.03.2013.

20:23

Default images

BELGRADE, NIS The head of the OSCE in Serbia has called for "respect and civility in public dialogue", after a debate organized with the assistance of the OSCE was disrupted. The debate on the draft law on public information, organized yesterday afternoon in Nis by the Ministry of Culture and Information with OSCE Mission assistance, was disrupted by threatening speech and actions, which were also directed at Ministry officials and OSCE representatives, from members of the audience. OSCE reacts to incident targeting its official “I regret that this public forum was disrupted – threats and violence have no place in democratic debate,” Head of Mission Ambassador Peter Burkhard was quoted as saying in an OSCE statement issued on Friday. “The OSCE Mission to Serbia helped organize this debate on the draft law on public information to inform the public and facilitate its participation in the legislative process. The need for citizens to have accurate information is in fact at the heart of media reforms.” “I hope that we will be able to continue this important discussion on media reform in an atmosphere of mutual respect and tolerance, with all sides able to present their views, ask questions and propose solutions," the ambassador said. Burkhard added that the mission would continue to work with the Serbian government, public, media and civil society to foster transparent processes and democratic debate as Serbia proceeds with democratic reforms. According to the Juzne Vesti website, the incident happened on Thursday during a break in the forum, when "three young men dressed in t-shirts of a kickbox club" aggressively approached an official of the OSCE and proceeded to hurl insults at him. According to this report, the three men were previously asked "not to heckle" during the discussion. The police soon arrived at the scene, as did Nis Mayor Zoran Perisic, and the panel resumed its work shortly afterwards. The website also reports "unofficially" that the three turned up at the gathering "on the invitation of one of the public officials". Media associations also reacted on Friday to the incident, saying that the public debate overall was experiencing "serious obstruction from some local public companies in the news sector ". A joint statement signed by the Independent Association of Journalists of Serbia, the Independent Society of Journalists of Vojvodina, the Association of Independent Electronic Media, and Local Press, said that "an intolerant, at times pogrom-like atmosphere" was being created, instead of a the debate supported by arguments. B92

OSCE reacts to incident targeting its official

“I regret that this public forum was disrupted – threats and violence have no place in democratic debate,” Head of Mission Ambassador Peter Burkhard was quoted as saying in an OSCE statement issued on Friday.

“The OSCE Mission to Serbia helped organize this debate on the draft law on public information to inform the public and facilitate its participation in the legislative process. The need for citizens to have accurate information is in fact at the heart of media reforms.”

“I hope that we will be able to continue this important discussion on media reform in an atmosphere of mutual respect and tolerance, with all sides able to present their views, ask questions and propose solutions," the ambassador said.

Burkhard added that the mission would continue to work with the Serbian government, public, media and civil society to foster transparent processes and democratic debate as Serbia proceeds with democratic reforms.

According to the Južne Vesti website, the incident happened on Thursday during a break in the forum, when "three young men dressed in t-shirts of a kickbox club" aggressively approached an official of the OSCE and proceeded to hurl insults at him.

According to this report, the three men were previously asked "not to heckle" during the discussion.

The police soon arrived at the scene, as did Niš Mayor Zoran Perišić, and the panel resumed its work shortly afterwards.

The website also reports "unofficially" that the three turned up at the gathering "on the invitation of one of the public officials".

Media associations also reacted on Friday to the incident, saying that the public debate overall was experiencing "serious obstruction from some local public companies in the news sector ".

A joint statement signed by the Independent Association of Journalists of Serbia, the Independent Society of Journalists of Vojvodina, the Association of Independent Electronic Media, and Local Press, said that "an intolerant, at times pogrom-like atmosphere" was being created, instead of a the debate supported by arguments.

Komentari 3

Pogledaj komentare

3 Komentari

Možda vas zanima

16.700 vojnika raspoređeno: Počelo je... 4
Svet

16.700 vojnika raspoređeno: Počelo je...

Filipinske i američke trupe počele su danas vojne vežbe "Balikatan" u Filipinima, koje će trajati do 10. maja, a uključivaće i pomorske vežbe u Južnom kineskom moru, na čije teritorije polažu pravo i Kina i Filipini.

12:24

22.4.2024.

1 d

Podeli: