The European Union expressed concern over reciprocal entry bans imposed on journalists by Serbia and Montenegro, urging both countries to avoid measures that undermine media freedom and freedom of movement, Radio Free Europe (RFE) said on Tuesday.
It quoted unnamed European Commission sources who said that the retaliatory restrictions on journalists are incompatible with European values and called on Belgrade and Podgorica to resolve the dispute through dialogue rather than reciprocal measures.
The issue began when the Montenegrin government banned the entry of the owner of the pro-regime Informer tabloid and TV Dragan J Vucicevic for spreading hate speech and intolerance towards Montenegro and Serbia reciprocated by banning several Montenegrin journalists.
Media freedom organisations have also criticised the bans, warning they hinder journalists’ work and set a damaging precedent for press freedom in the Western Balkans.
Source: N1
