Source: Glas Javnosti
BELGRADE - The Serbian Commissioner for Information of Public Importance, Rodoljub Sabic, said yesterday to Beta that the media space in Serbia “is contaminated with untruths, misinformation, half-truths” because of the lack of reliable, documented information, primarily from the authorities and about the work of the authorities. At the seminar on free access to information held in Novi Pazar, he said that by their consistent insisting on the freedom of access to information, journalists and media may give an exceptionally significant contribution to the achievement of the vitally important transition goals of the society.- The media may also give their contribution to the fight against corruption. In our country the corruption is a chronic, system problem which got out of hand. We have received a very poor mark in the eyes of the international public, while in the perception of an enormous majority of our citizens, the corruption is one of the biggest problems of the society - Sabic stressed.
According to the announcement from the Sabic's cabinet, he stressed that the experience of other countries and the warnings of international experts go to show that an increased transparency of work and accessibility of the data on the work of the government to the media and the citizens is most directly correlated with the reduction of corruption. He added that it would be important for the government to create the suppositions for a free access to information and to remove obstacles much faster, including the “confidentiality which covers various illegitimate interests, while even insulting the common sense and dignity of the citizens and the public.”
Sabic stated that it was important that the Government of Serbia activated the mechanisms necessary for a normal enforcement of the law on free access to information, that it ensured a more correct relation towards the requests of journalists and citizens, and that it significantly expanded the circle of information accessible to the wider public.
- As the duty guardians of transparency, journalists and media not only have the right and obligation to request that, but also the power and social influence which may support these legitimate requests. They should use this power and the influence, both in their own interest and in the interest of the whole society - stressed the Commissioner for the information of public importance.
