Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Serbia Ivan Mrkic has met today with the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Dunja Mijatovic, who is on her first official visit to Serbia.

Minister Mrkic expressed his full support for the activities of the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media and pointed out the importance of Ms. Mijatovic's efforts which are significantly contributing to the development and democratization of the media in Serbia and to the consolidation of pluralism and freedom of expression and accountability.

Ms. Mijatovic expressed her readiness and willingness to make her contribution within her terms of reference during the Republic of Serbia's Chairmanship-in-Office in 2015, and in the context of specific topics discussed she raised issues such as decriminalization of defamation, unsolved murder cases of journalists and occasional violence against media representatives. The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media commended the clear-cut position of the Serbian Government regarding the settlement of all these issues.

Ms. Mijatovic informed Minister Mrkic about the expectations from the upcoming second conference on freedom of the media in the South East Europe region, to be held in Belgrade, 20-21 September 2012, hosted by the Office of the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media in Serbia, and supported by the OSCE Missions in the SEE region.