Freedom of expression

Freedom of the media and freedom of expression "call for tireless efforts of the state, NGO sector, media and citizens."

That is what officials stated at a gathering on Monday dubbed, "Freedom of expression, media freedom and (auto) censorship in OSCE countries."

The OSCE’s Representative on Freedom of the Media, Dunja Mijatovic, said the new code of ethics should improve media standards - and called for more unity among the country's polarised journalists.

OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Dunja Mijatovic has welcomed the new draft Code of Ethics for Montenegrin journalists.

The OSCE said in a statement that Mijatovic was speaking at the end of her two-day visit to Montenegro.

A report adopted by the Council of Europe (CoE) on June 24 says media transparency should be promoted, stressing the importance of freedom of expression and media pluralism for a functioning democracy.

BIRN directors and media experts highighted the main obstacles to media freedom in the region and offered their own recommendations on how to improve the situation at the regional conference of the Balkan Investigative Reporting Network, entitled "Media Freedom Challenges", on Friday in Sarajevo.

Azerbaijan has given the Organisation for Security and Cooperation (OSCE) in Europe one month to halt its operations in the former Soviet republic, months before a parliamentary election this autumn, the OSCE said on June 9.

OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Dunja Mijatovic has said that recent attacks and threats against journalists in Albania are unacceptable.

The key problem in the Western Balkans is that regional countries "have not yet overcome the system of controlling the media," says Dunja Mijatovic.

President Klaus Iohannis sent, on Sunday, on the World Press Freedom Day, a message in which he shows that the role of the mass media is essential in defending public interest.

Photo credit: (c) Alex MICSIK / AGERPRES ARCHIVE

BELGRADE - Ministry of Culture and Information expressed Saturday its unconditional support for the freedom of media, adding it strongly opposes all forms of threats, pressures and endangering the safety of journalists.