EU Ambassador Calls on Serbian Authorities to Sanction Threats Against Press

Emanuele Giaufret speaking at the panel discussion “Thessaloniki Enthusiasm – 20 Years Later” (BETAPHOTO/MILAN OBRADOVIC)

Head of the European Union Delegation to Serbia Ambassador Emanuele Giaufret has sent a letter of support to the president of the Independent Journalists Association of Vojvodina, Ana Lalic, and its program director, Novi Sad University Professor Dinko Gruhonjic, the Association reported on April 4.

In the missive, Giaufret stated that the EU has been keeping abreast of the campaign against Lalic and Gruhonjic, which has been going on for weeks and has included death threats.

“The EU Delegation has been following the latest developments and continued attacks with much concern. Rest assured that the EU will continue to monitor the situation in the case [of these two journalists], but also in all other cases of journalists [being pressured] in the country. The freedom of media and security of the press remain essential to democracy in Serbia,” Giaufret wrote according to the Association.

The ambassador further expressed his strong reproach for all threats against the press and called on the authorities to take the appropriate measures and to publicly condemn such behavior.