Broadcasting Law Entered into Force

Elena Simonoska
November 29, 2005

On the occasion of the entry into force of the new Broadcasting Law of the Republic of Macedonia, the Media Development Centre held a press conference earlier today, at the NGO InfoCentre. Roberto Belicanec, MDC Executive Director, and Gazmend Ajdini from IREX-ProMedia addressed the press.

This is the first Law prepared by the non-governmental sector in Macedonia, in cooperation with the Government. This precedent proves that certain organizations have developed a serious, respectable capacity that appears as alternative to the state. Moreover, that capacity has finally won the respect of the Government.

Roberto Belicanec from the Media Development Centre (the centre was charged with the operational implementation of the initiative of the National Working Group of the Stability Pact) emphasized that he was satisfied with the final version of the Law, adopted by the Sobranie (Macedonian Parliament).

The preparation of the Law involved a great variety of experts and institutions. More than 30 people were directly involved in the preparation of the text.

The passing of the Law, stressed Belicanec, was prolonged by the pressure of certain media interest groups on the Government. The procedure was accompanied with a series of objective difficulties faced by the Republic of Macedonia.

The initial plan was for the Law to be adopted in March 2004, but Macedonia passed through a calamity that disturbed the whole social agenda in the country, the airplane crash that killed President Trajkovski. It launched Macedonia through a series of Elections, first Presidential and then Local, followed by the Referendum on the Law on the Municipal Map of the Republic of Macedonia, and the tense atmosphere didn’t allow for the adoption procedure to continue.

The Law was passed in the Sobranie just one hour after the announcement of the news that the European Commission has recommended for Macedonia to get the status of candidate for full EU membership.

This article was originally published by OneWorld.net - London,England,UK