Newsroom

An "Original Serbian View" from the Hague Courtroom

March 2006
By Irina Slavkovic

The Hague project, which was initiated by IREX ProMedia Serbia in 2001, has developed into one of the major media projects in the country. It contributes to a greater dissemination of information and, to some extent at least, a reassessment of the Serbian role in Yugoslav civil wars. Realizing the importance of an "original Serbian view" for understanding the war crimes trials, especially the high-profile Milosevic case, IREX has rented a house located near The Hague which serves as a home-office for Serbian reporters from private as well as state media outlets, who cover Hague issues.

Ljiljana Smajlovic, an IREX consultant, explains that "For a Serb audience, the Tribunal proceedings have to be covered the way everything else has to be covered: in Serbian, with a Serbian accent, by credible Serb journalists asking the hard questions Serb viewers, readers, and listeners would ask if they had the opportunity." For the first time starting in October 2001, reporters from various media outlets: Danas, B92, NIN, Vreme, RTS, FoNet, Nezavisna svetlost were able to witness first hand the court sessions and presented their "locally-produced" analysis of the events, decisions, and implications for those indicted.

Professional Security and Cooperation

"The most important thing for me is a feeling of professional security: everything is well-organized and I can focus on my professional task - providing quality information to Danas' readers." said Jasminka Kocijan. Her colleague from Vreme, Nenad Stefanovic couldn't agree more. "This project has really changed the course of my career, and the financial importance should not be underestimated: no media outlet in Serbia could afford a correspondent from The Hague. Without this project, therefore, I'm not sure how we could present and explain what is really going on in the courtroom."

During three Milosevic status conferences, the IREX Hague house served as a media pool center with computers and telephone lines; lawyers sometimes stopping by for informal briefings; and reporters from different media exchanging information and cooperating on stories. As N. Stefanovic remembers: "The atmosphere in the house is really special. All journalists, coming from competing media, work as one team, which is a kind of solidarity one rarely finds among professionals. At the end of the last status conference our colleague from B92 had to leave earlier, in time for the Radio B92 news deadline and he missed the final act when it was decided that the trial will begin in February. We ran to the nearest phone so that he could have the main news in his report."

Exclusive Inside Perspective

Reporters that were sent to The Hague at IREX's expense also had a one-week training session in London in order to fully familiarize themselves with the ITCY's rules and procedures. IREX's consultant in London, Ms. Gwyneth Henderson, assembled an impressive list of speakers, which included a QC who is a member of prosecution team, Mr. Geoffrey Nice and other distinguish professors, lawyers, and journalists. Describing the purpose of the visit L. J. Smajlovic said: "It was a stimulating week that offered an unprecedented chance for Serb journalists to achieve two separate purposes: on the one hand, to hear the most sophisticated pro and con arguments about international justice, and on the other, perhaps more importantly, to use world authorities on the issue as sounding boards to test their own views and level of knowledge. In the end, no stone was left unturned: Hague issues were explored from a variety of angles."

Although it is too early for any kind of definite evaluation of the Hague project effects, it is not premature to say that the Serbian public now has an access to a wide range of media views and perspectives of the ICTY and those being tried. In turn, this should also affect chances of better understanding of the international court system, especially the Milosevic trial and the question of collective guilt often connected with it. What is visible even at first glance is the advanced professional level and improved quality of reporting by all journalists who participated in the program. "Taking everything into account, it would be an understatement to say that FoNet is less than pleased with achieved results. During her monthly residence our reporter sent more than 31 audio reports, 36 reports, 18 statements from officials… FoNet's coverage of the trials is more than improved, in both scope and depth, which also reflects our market position. Our reports were regularly quoted by all major Serbian media outlets and we expect even better results in the future," says Zoran Sekulic, director of FoNet News Agency.

In the meantime, IREX has also purchased a TV van, which will allow live broadcasting and exclusive reports from the scene of happenings. Milosevic's trial, which has just started and will probably last for years, has already brought increased attention from the Serbian public focused on delicate issues and crimes committed on the territory of the FRY. And with Serb reporters in The Hague, the local public will have an exclusive inside view of the process, they will be helped to understand mysterious "inside" witnesses in a complex and comprehensive manner, without unanswered questions that have troubled the domestic public since the Tribunal's inception.

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