Slovene deputies blame media for lack of support for Slovenia joining NATO
07 Dec 2001, Slovenia
Slovene MPs have criticized the media for harming the country's
efforts to join NATO by spreading negative views about the
alliance. Jozef Bernik from the New Slovenia party condemned what he
saw as insulting media attacks against the US ambassador to
Slovenia. Miha Brejc from the Social Democratic Party blamed the media
for alienating US opinion from Slovenia. However, two deputies from
Prime minister Drnovsek's Liberal Democracy of Slovenia insisted that
the Foreign Ministry could not apologize to anyone, as the state did
not own the media and differing views were the sign of a true
democracy. The following is an excerpt from a report by Branko
Maksimovic headlined "Who is to be blamed? The media, of course!"
carried by the Slovene newspaper Vecer web site on 7 December:
During a discussion on current topics (with Foreign Ministry
representatives answering questions) on Wednesday [5 December], the
parliamentary committee for foreign affairs members talked about the
media twice. Deputy Miha Brejc from the Social Democratic Party
believes that the media are discouraging Slovene citizens from joining
the NATO alliance. Deputy Jozef Bernik from the New Slovenia party
was appalled by insulting media attacks against US Ambassador [to
Slovenia Johnny] Young. The media attacks against Young are supposedly
below a "level of civilization" and the Foreign Ministry should make
an apology because of them.
State Secretary Samuel Zbogar agreed that support for joining NATO
was not "at the desired level". He added that a series of critical
reports had been published especially during the summer. He talked
about outdated information on 25 per cent of Slovenes opposing
Slovenia's membership [of NATO] and one half of them being in favour
of it. According to a November public opinion poll, 34.6 per cent of
Slovenes is against and 48.4 per cent of them in favour [of Slovenia
joining NATO]. A work group has been established to strengthen public
support by informing citizens about the importance of the NATO
alliance. This campaign is supposed to reach its peak next spring when
it is supposed to be clear if Slovenia is going to be invited [to join
NATO] at the November summit in Prague.
Deputy Brejc complained that it was already too late and that the
US friends were turning away from us because we were not serious
partners. "There is serious doubt whether those who have power and
influence in Slovenia really want us to join NATO. [Foreign Minister
Dimitrij] Rupel has expressed his opinion, this is true. But the fact
is that the prime minister [Janez Drnovsek] and the president [Milan
Kucan] have not publicly expressed their strong opinion and have not
showed us the way. If we wish for a change in public opinion, we need
to consider the influence of key people in this state. If there was
proper media support, the public would have a different opinion on
joining NATO. People have been bombarded by anti-NATO reports," he
said.
Deputies Jasa Zlobec and Jelko Kacin, both from the Liberal
Democracy of Slovenia party, disagreed with Brejc. Kacin said that the
executive and the legislative powers were in favour of NATO. He added:
"There are always different opinions in democratic states. A public
discussion is welcome and it is a proof of democracy. The final
decision is important. I do not doubt that my party will find a way to
explain the reasons for successful completion of this project."
According to official information, Slovenia has hired the lobbying
group Verner, Liipfert, McPherson, Bernhard & Hand from Washington to
increase the support of the US institutions and public. Former Senator
Bob Dole cooperates with this lobbying group. Expenses are divided
between the Foreign Ministry and the Defence Ministry.
"The US ambassador comes from a state with freedom of the press,"
State Secretary Iztok Simoniti said in his diplomatic response to
Bernik's question...
Kacin, the committee chairman, denied the possibility of the
Foreign Ministry apologizing to anyone: "The state cannot and must not
talk in the name of editors, because it does not own or supervise any
media"...
Source: Vecer web site, Maribor, in Slovene 7 Dec 01.
BBC Worldwide Monitoring/ (c) BBC 2001.
Source: BBC MONITORING INTERNATIONAL REPORTS
BBC MONITORING EUROPEAN - POLITICAL 07/12/2001
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