Thursday, 1 October 2009

Third Meeting of Working Group on Broadcasting National Assembly Sessions

At the meeting held on 1 October, the Working Group on Broadcasting National Assembly Sessions discussed the Conclusions of the RTS Collegium submitted to the National Assembly on 29 September 2009. The meeting was chaired by National Assembly Secretary General and Working Group Coordinator Veljko Odalovic, and attended by the National Assembly Speaker, Prof. Dr Slavica Djukic-Dejanovic and RTS Director General Aleksandar Tijanic.



At the meeting held on 1 October, the Working Group on Broadcasting National Assembly Sessions discussed the Conclusions of the RTS Collegium submitted to the National Assembly on 29 September 2009.

The meeting was chaired by National Assembly Secretary General and Working Group Coordinator Veljko Odalovic, and attended by the National Assembly Speaker, Prof. Dr Slavica Djukic-Dejanovic and RTS Director General Aleksandar Tijanic.

Before the discussion on the Conclusions of the RTS Collegium, the National Assembly Speaker stressed that RTS is not legally bound to broadcast National Assembly sessions, but it is a matter of customary law and the need to keep the public informed on the National Assembly’s activities. She added that, until a parliamentary channel is founded, the National Assembly’s work needs to be made transparent and in this respect the National Assembly must rely on the media public service. The citizens expect the Working Group to come up with a solution which would define the relationship between RTS and the National Assembly.

In the opening address, RTS Director General Aleksandar Tijanic stated that two issues had been solved so far. On one hand the Serbian public wants to have insight into the National Assembly’s work and the representatives of the political parties at the National Assembly want their efforts to be seen. On the other hand RTS is independent in its editorial concept and has no legal obligation to broadcast National Assembly sessions. RTS bears the financial costs of the broadcasts which annually come up to a million EUR. He stressed that RTS is prepared to forego its marketing duties during the broadcasting of sessions if the National Assembly finances half of the amount.

The discussion on the Conclusions of the RTS Collegium submitted to the Working Group, focused on the need to ensure full transparency of the National Assembly’s work and continue the broadcasting of the sessions in cooperation with RTS. Also, it is necessary to respect RTS’s independence and the National Assembly Rules of Procedure when planning the work and broadcasts. RTS’s expenses for the session broadcasts should be defined by a protocol on cooperation, ensuring that they are minimal and planned on a yearly basis.

In line with this, the Working Group adopted the following conclusions.

After the meeting of the Working Group, the National Assembly Speaker and RTS Director General gave press statements.

Assembly Speaker Djukic-Dejanovic stressed that the Working Group’s continual activities shall result in the foundation of a parliamentary channel which shall follow the parliament’s legislative work in plenary sessions and sittings of its working bodies, as well as the National Assembly’s representative and control role. She said it was concluded that a protocol on cooperation between the National Assembly and RTS should be drafted in the days to come. She added that the broadcasting costs were not subject to speculation at the meeting of the Working Group, and that the protocol shall specify that RTS’s minimal costs are to be covered for a year.

RTS Director General Aleksandar Tijanic stressed that in this deal RTS got what belongs to it, and the National Assembly got what it needs.



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friday, 29 march
  • 9.00 - the National Assembly Speaker meets with the Head of the EU Delegation to Serbia (National Assembly House, 13 Nikola Pasic Square, Speaker’s Cabinet)

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