B4-1003, 1011, 1028, 1037 and 1046/98

Resolution on violation of freedom of expression in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia

19/11/98

The European Parliament,

- having regard to its previous resolutions on the violation of basic human and democratic rights in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, and especially freedom of the press,

A. noting that on 20 October 1998 the Serbian Parliament adopted a new law on public information, which imposes heavy fines on media outlets which carry foreign programmes and fail to publish information that the authorities deem important,

B. stressing that the adoption and implementation of this law constitute a further escalation in the increasing repression of the free and independent media in Serbia and a severe violation of the international principles governing freedom of expression in the country,

C. noting with great concern that, on the basis of this law and the Government's Special Decree on Measures in Circumstances of NATO's Threats of Military Attacks Against Our Country, the Serbian authorities have fined and closed the newspapers Danas, Dnevni Telegraf and Nasa Borba and the broadcasting stations Radio Index, Radio Senta, TV Pirot, Radio Kontakt and Radio City,

D. whereas, on 8 November 1998, a Serbian court imposed a fine of 2.4 million dinars (ECU 200 000) on the chief editor and owners of the Dnevni Telegraf paper for breaching the new law by publishing an advertisement by an opposition student organisation,

E. stressing that the situation of media in South East Europe is considered increasingly crucial for the consolidation of democracy, the development of civil society and the implementation of the Dayton accord,

F. alarmed at the systematic removal from universities of persons who are opposed to the regime and favourable to the democratisation of Serbian society, and particularly concerned by the decision of the Serbian Government and Parliament to impose severe restrictions on freedom of teaching at universities, notably by obliging teachers to swear allegiance to government programmes,

G. having regard to the law adopted by the Serbian Parliament on universities in Serbia on 26 May 1998 which in essence suspends their autonomy and the academic freedom guaranteed by the Constitution,

H. whereas this law provides that the Minister of Education shall appoint university rectors who in turn appoint the deans of the faculties and that all university employees are required to conclude new contracts within 60 days of the promulgation thereof,

I. emphasising once again that the Commission and the Council should make every effort to support a free and independent press and the autonomy of the universities in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia,

1. Urges President Milosevic, who has prime responsibility in this field, and the Government and the Parliament of Serbia to put an end immediately to their attacks against the free and independent media in their country and to withdraw this law on public information;

2. Calls furthermore on the Government of Serbia to abolish immediately the fines imposed under this law and to reopen the media that it closed;

3. Calls on Serbian authorities to stop prosecuting journalists who have been accused of infringing this law on public information;

4. Urges the Council and the Commission to make a stronger commitment to building a civil society in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, and in this context to pay special attention to the media situation;

5. Urges the Council and the Commission to take the necessary decisions to support the functioning and reinforcement of the existing network of independent media, notably ANEM and SENSE, as well as other independent media in the region, in order to lay down the conditions for the development of genuine democracy;

6. Calls on President Milosevic and the Government in Belgrade forthwith to take all necessary measures to ensure that the autonomy of universities and academic freedom are restored in accordance with the Constitution and that university teachers and staff can resume their old contracts;

7. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Commission, the Council, the Government and the Parliament of Serbia and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and the OSCE's Representative on Freedom of the Media.