Implementation of Transitional Laws in Serbia 2006

Implementation of Transitional Laws in Serbia 2006Commercials in which it was called to circle YES in the referendum werebroadcasted in almost all informative shows, even though advertising inshows shorter than 30 minutes is prohibited (Article 17, Paragraph 7 of theLaw on Advertising), but also the regulations on the length of broadcastingwere violated, because on Sunday, in the afternoon hours, calls to vote wereincessantly broadcasted in the top or the bottom of the screen on most TVstations, including the Public Service of Serbia 231 . The Law on Advertisingprohibits the advertising of political parties outside of pre-electioncampaigns 232 . Considering that these were not elections, all the TV stationshad severely violated this regulation of the law. The Republic BroadcastingAgency did not react to the violations of the Law on Broadcasting.In the end, the very members of RIK were included in the campaign tovote and confirm the Constitution. The Secretary of RIK Marko Danilovicadvocated during the voting that the citizens should vote in the referendumand for the Constitution in large numbers 233 , while the President of RIK,and also the judge of the Supreme Court of Serbia, Mihajlo Rulic, statedin a press conference on 30th September: „As a citizen, I am very pleasedtoday that I live in Serbia. I am glad that the citizens of Serbia know howsignificant the adoption of the new Constitution is for Serbia, in both asymbolic and formally-legal way“ 234 .231 See above under 210232 Article 106 of the Law on broadcasting, see above under 2233 Reports of the team of the Initiative for monitoring electronic media, the documentation of the Initiative234 Statement available at the website: http://www.rik.parlament.sr.gov.yu/latinica/saopstenja_frames.htm, visitedon November 25 th , 200660