OSCE concerned with recent statement issued by the Serbian Minister of Information

VIENNA, 6 October 1998 - The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Freimut Duve, is extremely concerned with the recent statement issued by the Serbian Minister of Information Aleksandar Vucic in which the Minister threatened the independent media in Yugoslavia that broadcast foreign-produced programmes. Minister Vucic informed that media that such broadcasts represented "an act of espionage."

Freimut Duve would like to remind the Serbian authorities that such threats are uncalled for and are in contravention with the principles and commitments of the Conference for Security and Co-operation in Europe signed by Yugoslavia in 1975. Freimut Duve expects the authorities to immediately seize any threats against the independent media and to adhere to the principles and commitments of the said conference.