Implementation of Transitional Laws in Serbia 2006

Implementation of Transitional Laws in Serbia 2006The RRA Council reacted to such numerous accusations with counteraccusations,both against domestic critics 552 , as well as against internationalorganizations 553 . In response to the criticism of the German Ambassadorto Belgrade Andreas Zobel, the RRA Council said the following:“It is certain that such television in Germany would not get a broadcastinglicense, but Mr. Zobel seems to be led by the rule that what you are notallowed to do at your home, you can do at someone else’s” 554 .Apart from that, in its press release the RRA Council again repeated itsclaim that RTL has foreign capital in the amount higher than allowed bythe law. It is clear from this press statement that the RRA Council fullyignored the binding interpretation from the Ministry of Culture along withconsultations with the Ministry of International Economic Relations, whichsaid that the majority capital share of RTL is domestic 555 . It is not clear thenwhy it was accepted that RTL participates in the competition as an equalcandidate in the first place.There were several electronic media that accused the OSCE Mission toBelgrade of working in favor of German RTL and advocating repetitionof the contest because RTL was not given the broadcasting license 556 . Astatement was sent from the offices of Radio Index, station where RRACouncil members Nenad Cekic and Aleksandar Vasic used to work, andwhich was granted a national broadcasting license 557 .Serbian President Boris Tadic did not sign the Law on changes andamendments to the law on broadcasting 558 after it was adopted by theNational Assembly on July 19, 2006 559 . In his letter, Tadic severely criticizedthe solutions offered in the Law which, according to him, limit the freedomof the media and introduce control of executive authorities over RRA’swork 560 . Inter alia, Tadic said in his letter:552 RRA Council: NUNS threatens, B92, July 31 st , 2006, webpage: http://www.b92.net/info/vesti/index.php?yyyy=2006&mm=07&dd=31&nav_category=12&nav_id=206407&fs=1#, visited on November 25 th , 2006553 OSCE tied with RTL, B92, July 29 th , 2006, webpage: http://www.b92.net/info/vesti/index.php?yyyy=2006&mm=07&dd=29&nav_category=12&nav_id=206209&fs=1#, visited on November 25 th , 2006554 RRA seeks protection from Zobel’s statement, B92, July 20 th , 2006, webpage: http://www.b92.net/info/vesti/index.php?yyyy=2006&mm=07&dd=20&nav_category=12&nav_id=205368&fs=1#,visited on November 25 th ,2006555 See above under 516556 OSCE tied with RTL, see above under 553557 Ibid558 A new chance for broadcasting, see above under 539559 Law on Broadcasting changed, B92, July 19 th , 2006, webpage: http://www.b92.net/info/vesti/index.php?yyyy=2006&mm=07&dd=19&nav_category=11&nav_id=205169&fs=1#, visited on November 25 th , 2006560 Why haven’t I signed the Law on Broadcasting, BLIC, July 28 th , 2006, available at: http://www.b92.net/info/vesti/110