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OSCE Mission proposes reintroducing live broadcasts of parliamentary sessions in Montenegro
BELGRADE 8 September 2003
BELGRADE, 8 September, 2003 - In a proposal submitted to Montenegro's Government and opposition representatives on 5 September to help in resolving a parliamentary crisis, the OSCE Mission to Serbia and Montenegro suggested to introducing full live broadcasts of the sessions of the Montenegrin Parliament. This has also been set as condition by Montenegro's opposition for its return to Parliament.
In a statement issued to the media, the Head of the OSCE Mission, Ambassador Maurizio Massari, said: "The Mission accepts that live parliamentary broadcasts are an important political tool for the opposition so that it can play its role in the political process.
"On the one hand, the OSCE Mission's proposal in assisting a resolution to the parliamentary crisis is based on our belief that Montenegro needs working and legitimate political institutions as well as a political opposition that conducts politics inside, as opposed to outside, political structures. On the other hand, the Mission's proposal holds that the government also has an important responsibility to ensure that the opposition can conduct its function effectively", he added.
Ambassador Massari also stressed the Mission's proposal did not, as reported, suggest payment by the OSCE to a private TV network charged with broadcasting parliamentary sessions live.
"Rather, the OSCE Mission has offered to channel and manage the outside funds for such a service through its Office in Podgorica. This offer by the Mission would assist in reassuring the opposition that live broadcasting of parliamentary sessions would continue unabated."
"The OSCE Mission's proposal also advises the parliament to approve - in the spirit of bi-partisan reconciliation - a motion that would recognize the principle of a live parliamentary broadcasting service. We offer to endorse politically such an eventual agreement between the Government and opposition so as to ensure that it would be objectively safeguarded and guaranteed", he said.
"The Mission's proposal is aimed at facilitating an agreement and enabling the conditions for dialogue between government and opposition. The proposal guarantees the return of live broadcasting of parliamentary sessions as requested by the opposition, without jeopardizing the set of internationally supported media laws introduced in Montenegro in November 2002", Ambassador Massari added.
In a statement issued to the media, the Head of the OSCE Mission, Ambassador Maurizio Massari, said: "The Mission accepts that live parliamentary broadcasts are an important political tool for the opposition so that it can play its role in the political process.
"On the one hand, the OSCE Mission's proposal in assisting a resolution to the parliamentary crisis is based on our belief that Montenegro needs working and legitimate political institutions as well as a political opposition that conducts politics inside, as opposed to outside, political structures. On the other hand, the Mission's proposal holds that the government also has an important responsibility to ensure that the opposition can conduct its function effectively", he added.
Ambassador Massari also stressed the Mission's proposal did not, as reported, suggest payment by the OSCE to a private TV network charged with broadcasting parliamentary sessions live.
"Rather, the OSCE Mission has offered to channel and manage the outside funds for such a service through its Office in Podgorica. This offer by the Mission would assist in reassuring the opposition that live broadcasting of parliamentary sessions would continue unabated."
"The OSCE Mission's proposal also advises the parliament to approve - in the spirit of bi-partisan reconciliation - a motion that would recognize the principle of a live parliamentary broadcasting service. We offer to endorse politically such an eventual agreement between the Government and opposition so as to ensure that it would be objectively safeguarded and guaranteed", he said.
"The Mission's proposal is aimed at facilitating an agreement and enabling the conditions for dialogue between government and opposition. The proposal guarantees the return of live broadcasting of parliamentary sessions as requested by the opposition, without jeopardizing the set of internationally supported media laws introduced in Montenegro in November 2002", Ambassador Massari added.