Journalists' association of Serbia won't take part in meeting banned for media

N1

The Association of Serbia’s Journalists (UNS) has said on Wednesday it cannot take part in a meeting about the media to be held on August 19 as a part of the regime and opposition dialogue, because its request for the talks to be covered by media was rejected, the news agencies reported.

In a statement, UNS called on the organisers and participants to open the meeting to the public.

The statement added the organisers said some media would be allowed to cover the opening of the meeting, while the discussion would be behind closed doors.

“UNS demands from the participants in the dialogue to say who among them has a problem with the opening of the talks to the public and presenting their views about the freedom of media and people’s right to know what about and in what way the dialogue is held,” the Association stated.

It also said it would not support any deal on media between the authorities and opposition if it was reached in violation of democratic rules, outside the institutions and without the public presence and would strongly oppose to any attempt to limit journalists’ freedoms.

The Independent Association of Serbia’s Journalists (NUNS) said it did not receive the invitation for the meeting and said it would decide on its participation once they were officially invited.    

The opposition Alliance for Serbia (SzS) which boycotted the second meeting because it was held behind closed doors, said on Wednesday it would decide whether to take part in the meeting next Monday.