The undersigned organizations regret the fact that the Serbian Parliament has violated the law by confirming the election of some members of the Broadcasting Council. An unlawful act remains illegal even if committed by the highest organs of the state. Two deputy prime ministers of Serbia, Jovanovic and Korac, made very surprising statements in this regard. They do not understand, or do not wish to understand, that this was a violation of the procedure prescribed by law, and not a statement about personalities: these two deputy prime ministers are even accusing all those objecting to illegality of participation in a “campaign” in favour a single media house. Respect for law cannot be a campaign; it is a constant effort, on which the undersigned organizations will insist. We repeat: there has not been the opportunity prescribed by law for the public to state its opinion about the candidates for the Council proposed by the Government and the Parliament. Meetings improvised in some parliamentary bodies could not substitute the public opinion. Had the procedure proscribed by law been respected, many would have used this opportunity.
In fact, by their first announcement, after their illegal confirmation, two disputable members – Nenad Cekić and Vladimir N. Cvetković – made further discussion about them unnecessary. They have presented themselves as persons with no impartiality, wiling to usurp an authority of the Council, and by this they showed that they were not up to the high standards, which have to be satisfied by members of this important body.
As organizations which have participated in proposing a candidate for the Council, who later resigned (unfortunately and rightfully), we declare that we shall not take part in any future proceedings for the election of the members of the Council, which will replace him or her, because supporting a body which has lost all its credibility at the very outset, we would accept illegality.
The Belgrade Centre for Human Rights
Civic Initiatives
OTPOR
Centre for Antiwar Action
