Vucic Apologizes for Calling RTS Correspondents Imbeciles, Adding They Are Not Journalists

Aleksandar Vucic (BETAPHOTO/MILAN ILIC)

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic issued an apology on March 3 for calling the Serbian Broadcasting Corporation (RTS) correspondents from Nis "imbeciles," adding though they "are not journalists, but an insult to their profession."

In his apology, Vucic stated that he had no right to call anyone an imbecile, but also that his opinion about the professionalism and objectivity of the said journalists was equally poor.”

"I believe that even in this apology of mine, people can see the difference, not only in responsibility but also in the respect I show toward people who think differently. I believe that people can see the difference compared to those opposition politicians who openly and consciously issue death threats, without any willingness or desire to apologize, but also the difference compared to the hypocritical RTS editorial board, which did not condemn the physical obstruction and attack on the RTS crew during the Feb. 1 protest in Novi Sad, nor the previous one at Autokomanda," the president stated.

The RTS programme committee and the editorial team of the Public Service Correspondents' Office in Nis condemned Vucic's statement, in which he insulted RTS journalist Lidija Georgijev, calling her an "imbecile" during a rally in Bor.

"No public official, regardless of their political affiliation, should have the right to speak about our colleagues in such an offensive manner," RTS stated, adding that RTS "is the only media house that, despite all its weaknesses, is still trying to maintain a spirit of tolerance in its program, and initiate at least some form of dialogue between opposing political sides."

The RTS Correspondents' Office demanded a public apology and condemned "any form of pressure and all other attacks against media workers, by either the authorities or the opposition."

Nis journalists and media workers said in a press release that they did not accept Vucic's apology to the Serbian Broadcasting Corporation correspondents from Nis and that they would "stop reporting on all presidential activities until an appropriate public apology."

The press release, signed to date by 46 journalists and media workers, notes that the apology contains a new insult.