Prime Minister Đukanović hosts OSCE Representative on Freedom of Media Dunja Mijatović

Podgorica, Montenegro (14 June 2016) -- Prime Minister Milo Đukanović hosted earlier today Dunja Mijatović, the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media.

The two officials commended cooperation established between Montenegro and the OSCE, and the results achieved. They welcomed the new Code of Ethics for Montenegrin Journalists, which Dunja Mijatović assessed as one of the best in the entire region, hopeful that this is the beginning of a new process.

PM Đukanović and OSCE’s Mijatović also discussed the continuation of the work of the Commission to monitor the competent authorities in investigating old and recent cases of threats against journalists and murders of journalists. The Prime Minister informed Ms Mijatović about the reasons for considering the option of relocating the commission’s work to the Parliament of Montenegro in order to ensure a greater degree of independence in its work. He also noted that the Minister of the Interior proposed the commission to remain under the jurisdiction of the Government, thus providing a better guarantee of its effectiveness. It is more a technical question and it is important to create conditions for the work of the Commission, said the Prime Minister. It was said that the Commission, to be set up in the Parliament, will be only be additional political support for the efficient operation of the competent authorities in all cases of importance for the work of journalists and the media.

The meeting also discussed the importance of raising professional standards and responsibilities in this extremely important activity for each society. Ms Mijatovic particularly stressed the significance of the support provided by the Prime Minister, emphasising that the OSCE remains committed to assisting Montenegro in all issues related to media freedom.