Transcript Presentation

Daily Press 2011
Freedom of Speech and Press in the
Western Balkan and Turkey
(with emphasis on Montenegro)
Željko Ivanović
Media are independent depending on how much
money they have ( Rupert Murdoch)
Daily Press 2011
The independence of media in the region is not
(only) defined with money, but with the existential
need to:
• Have a freedom of tought and speech instead of the
political singlemindness,
• Have trustworthiness instead of propaganda;
• Fight with justice instead with the proclaimed “higher
purpose”;
• Have the rule of law instead of the rule of individuals;
• Have market competition instead of nepotism.
The independent media have provided the
transition in the region
Daily Press 2011
After the end of war, the transition has imposed new
obstacles for the freedom of the press:
• Nepotism
• Corruption
• Organized crime:
- economic crime
- classic forms of crime
Freedom of the press is directly proportional to the
readiness of the government to fight against the organized
crime and for the establishment of the rule of law.
Montenegro has not brought the political decision about the effective
fight against the organized crime and corruption (T.M. Countryman)
Daily Press 2011
Montenegro is advancing in the EU integrations while the
freedom of the press is going back into the ’90s
• The representatives of the govmt and organized crime file mutual
law suits against the independent media
• In comparison to the period of war, the number of physical attacks
on journalists is rising
•There is no serious investigation of the attacks on journalists
Targeted by the govmt - independent media and NGO MANS
are the only obstacle to the people in power to rob the national
resources
EU begins to understand the problem
Daily Press 2011
The EC has made a truthful report for the first time at
the end of last year, which detected problems in
Montenegro
• The first political change - new PM appointed
• Dualism of power created - the PM rules the Govmt,
former PM as a president of the current Party in power
rules the policies of the Govmt.
• Media controlled by the Govmt are in charge of
beautifying the picture of Montenegro and covering up the
illegalities.
No EU integration - no transition
Daily Press 2011
Not a single new EU member state would undergo a
serious transition has it not been for the euro-atlantic
integrations
• Montenegro is at a phase shift
• We envy those who fight with the influence of the
advertisers on the editing politics
• Advancement in the region will have a spill over effect
on Montenegro as well
We only fear the EU integration without the real
transition
Daily Press 2011
Hvala na strpljenju!
Thank you for your patience!
Željko Ivanović