Source: : Pregled
Free information access - media and citizen' right
Free access to public information is the right of media and citizen's and they should insist on it since this is one of the basic prerequisites of the democratic society, pointed out the Commissioner for information of public importance Rodoljub Sabic participating in Novi Pazar round table panel dedicated to freedom of the media and freedom to public significance information access. Round table was organized in the cooperation with the OESS mission in Serbia, IJA (NUNS), AJS (UNS) and Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Serbia.. "Democratic societies are based on the idea that the public has the right to know, in principal all in the affairs of the government. And free information access available from the government enables the public to be informed better and government officials to be more accountable.", said Sabic. Sabic has pointed out that in transitional societies such as ours, expansion of space for free information access "is the basic pre-requisite and expression of the democratization and fight against governmental misuse and corruption". Public newspapers and journalists have a special, very important role and in order for them to fulfill it , there must be a clear set of rules on free information access enabling collecting data on the government. Sabic assesses that the Law on free information access is one of the Laws stipulating such rules, but it is not sufficient to only adopt the laws, but to ensure effective and coherent implementation. " Because of those unwilling to accept and respect this, it is essential to finally activate measures stipulated in the law, for the implementation of free information access right, and if otherwise impossible to enforce them by coercion, in other words make those not enforcing the law accountable.", said Sabic.
