OSCE media freedom representative addresses independence of public service broadcaster and media self-regulation during his visit in Montenegro

PODGORICA, 7 February 2018 - In the first of a series of official visits in South-Eastern Europe the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Harlem Désir, met on 5 and 6 February with the authorities and media professionals in Podgorica.

The Representative had meetings with Prime Minister Duško Marković, Minister of Foreign Affairs Srđan Darmanović, Minister of Culture Aleksandar Bogdanović and more than 20 representatives of the media community.

In his meetings with Prime Minister Duško Marković and other members of government, Désir discussed the promotion of media freedom in the country and its importance for the development of democracy. He addressed the issue of safety of journalists, the independence of the Public Service Broadcaster RTCG, self-regulation of the media and support to professional standards, offering his assistance to the government on the planned reforms of the media legislation.

"It is essential to safeguard the independence and the sustainable financing of the Public Radio and Television,” stressed Désir. “The RTCG has the responsibility to cover issues of public interest, to ensure that all voices can be heard fairly, and therefore it needs to remain free from any kind of political pressure". He added that he will closely follow the current situation following the dismissal of three members of the RTCG Council. The Representative met with the director and council members of the Public broadcaster.

Désir noted the importance of the re-establishment of the Commission monitoring investigations of attacks and threats against journalists and on media property. “The commission needs full support for its work, and the murder of journalist Duško Jovanović and other attacks against journalists must be solved.” Désir also visited the location of Jovanović’s assassination in 2004. 

In addition, Désir receive first-hand information on the media situation in Montenegro from representatives of various media, such as Pink M TV, the daily newspapers Dan and Vijesti, the weekly magazine Monitor, Radio Kotor, Tivat and Bijelo Polje, and media organizations and institutions such as the Center for Investigative Journalism, the Media Union of Montenegro and the Agency for Electronic Media.

In a meeting with the Media Council for Self-Regulation and the ombudspersons of the media outlets Vijesti, Dan and Monitor, Désir stated: "The promotion and implementation of professional ethical standards of journalists is key for quality journalism. My Office and the OSCE Mission to Montenegro will continue to provide support to these efforts.”

The next visit of the Representative to the region will be to Albania on 12 and 13 February.

The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media observes media developments in all 57 OSCE participating States. He provides early warning on violations of freedom of expression and media freedom and promotes full compliance with OSCE media freedom commitments. Learn more at www.osce.org/fom, Twitter: @OSCE_RFoM and on www.facebook.com/osce.rfom.