Intl. observers: Genuinely democratic elections

(Beta)

Intl. observers: Genuinely democratic elections

BELGRADE -- International observers have said that early parliamentary elections in Serbia were carried out in keeping with the law and with respect for basic freedoms.

But they also expressed concern over the lack of transparency in the media ownership structure and insufficient independence of journalists.

Serbia carried out genuinely democratic elections with a wide variety of options for voters and efficient procedures. Inclusive and transparent implementation of elections deserves praise, Roberto Battelli as special coordinator of the OSCE observation mission stated.

The polling committees on all levels performed their tasks professionally and efficiently and met all the legal deadlines, and the Republic Electoral Commission (RIK) adopted the decisions at the sessions which were open for the media and accredited observers, representatives of the OSCE Mission in Serbia and Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly (PACE) stated as they presented their preliminary report on the elections on Monday.

"We were especially impressed by the fact that the high standards of the procedures on the day of the elections were met both in Belgrade and other big cities and in villages and rural environments as well," Luigi Compagna as Head of the OSCE Parliamentary Delegation said.

International observers stated that despite the large number of public and private media and diverse media image, the presented spectra of stands was limited by the influence exerted on the media by ruling political parties.

The media environment was pluralist but journalists' independence and transparency in the media ownership structure was lacking, Pedro Agramunt as Head of...

Continue reading on: