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The Government of the Republic of Serbia

In the service of citizens

Mafia runs the media

Belgrade, 29 July 2004

Serbian Minister of Culture and Media Dragan Kojadinovic has said that the Law on broadcasting is a good starting point but warned that the current chaos in this field will put those who are to be appointed to the Broadcasting Council under a lot of pressure. In an interview with today’s Politika Ekspres daily, Kojadinovic announced that the parliament will discuss a bill on the availability of information and that a law should come into force on December 1. The Serbian government’s official web site brings excerpts from the interview.

When you took office, you said that our journalism is in chaos?

“I did not say that it is in complete chaos, but I have pointed to certain problems and anomalies. Then I received criticism that one should not underline bad things only, but also the good ones, and at least 70 percent is good. Today, anyone can call themselves a journalist. However, it is not their fault but rather the editors’ and owners of the media, who order them to do something that cannot be regarded as journalism for the sake of higher circulation and profits.

You also spoke about dubious privatisations and money in the media?

“We all lived in times that can be called dubious. What I am saying is that, after all that journalists and the media have gone through in the past 13 or 14 years, we must not let suspicious “tycoons” to buy out their hardships so easily. However, as I can see, there is a dearth of people willing to speak publicly about how we can’t build a new state on Milosevic’s foundations. There’s a lot of bad things in those foundations – dubious banking, tycoons...But everyone who has any kind of capital is allowed to take part in privatisation. This is going to be particularly tragic if they start buying media.

Have you raised that question at government sessions or within your coalition?

“I have spoken about it several times and I got the impression that my views were accepted, but it never went very far. There were media houses which had wind in their sails and, everyone knew it, were Milosevic’s media. They kept on working. Some other media, which were never on Milosevic’s side, now have a different wind in their sails. They are breaking laws, installing their transmitting equipment wherever they want, and nobody wants to talk about it.”

You mentioned that some people who made their fortunes during the rule of Slobodan Milosevic have tried to give money for certain projects?

“Well, they have. They do have money and they need a social status, so they keep trying to buy it. Nobody has ever offered money to me personally, but rather to certain institutions and the ministry for joint projects. I did not say anything, but I rejected them. I think that we silently understood each other.”

How did you feel about it?

“My feelings are not an issue. They felt like they were doing something normal and that is what worries me. I know that I am going to lose this battle, but I feel better saying this in public. At least there will be a record that I have tried to do something.”

A bill on changes to the Law on broadcasting has been submitted to the Serbian parliament and it should allow for the Broadcasting Council to start working again?

“First of all, I must say that I would least want to be a member of that council. Our media sector is in such a chaos that even if you choose the most ideal people for the council, they would suffer such pressures that they would not be able to stay sane. The law is a good starting point, but time will show whether it will work.”

In any case, the proposal was forwarded to the parliament, it will be amended, we expect that the parliament adopts it and that a broadcasting council is formed. The exact number of TV stations on the national and regional level must be set. It is true that many people will lose their jobs, but it is also true that not even Radio Belgrade can be heard well because of the poor frequency.

The draft law on access to information was prepared. When will it enter the parliamentary procedure?

I expect that the draft law will enter the parliamentary procedure in September, so its application could start, say, as of December 1.

Much is expected from that legislation?

The legislation envisions that all public services should become open and that all who seek information get the information. Of course, there are some data which cannot be disclosed, but I see this law as a very good and clear basis for regulating this kind of problems. We also have several new laws that are unfortunately not applied. If we want to act in an European fashion, we have to provide mechanisms for respecting the laws.

You announced that a national strategy for culture would be adopted?

For a culture national strategy, we have to adopt an overall national strategy; we have many open issues, which does not mean that we cannot have a national strategy. The fact is that to this very day we have not protected the Serbian script. We made a draft law on official use of language, which is, in a way, a law regulating the status of the Cyrillic script. Many were at daggers drawn with you after that?

When I spoke of the Cyrillic script, ten people rose saying, ‘Let’s all speak German and English if that’s an easier way to join Europe.’ I, however, think that our cultural heritage is our main identity. I think that Europe will accept us with our roots soon... Who has problems with the Cyrillic script? I was surprised when certain people criticized me. This is a difficult job of mine, it yields no privileges. Many are simply not comfortable with me as minister maybe because I am well familiar with the culture and the media and I can bitterly say that both are influenced by the mafia. I will try to do something, but I cannot do anything all by myself.

It appears there was more talk about general Draza Mihailovic’s wax figure than the very activities of your Ministry. How come the general’s figure was placed in front of your office?

Where Draza stands today, Tito’s figure stood for 53 years… When the figure was placed, both Draza and I were criticized. Draza is part of the Serbian history, and some are not comfortable with anything Serbian.