**REM Spokesperson: RTS is a “Media Pentagon”, Not Directly Connected to REM**
In a recent interview with Pink TV, Olivera Zekic, the spokesperson for Serbia’s Regulatory Authority for Electronic Media (REM), clarified the relationship between REM and the country’s public broadcasters, Serbian state TV (RTS) and Radio Television of Vojvodina (RTV). According to Zekic, REM has no direct connection to these broadcasters, operating under a separate law.
Zekic emphasized that while RTS and RTV are subject to REM’s oversight, the regulator does not have the authority to grant or revoke their broadcasting licenses. This distinction is crucial in understanding the current standoff between student protesters and the government over the appointment of members to the REM Council.
**Student Protesters Demand New Public Competition**
The students’ demands for a new public competition or the shutdown of RTS are deemed “insane” by Zekic, who hopes that the Parliament will not cave in to pressure. Instead, she expects the ongoing selection process to be completed with the remaining candidates being voted on.
**RTS and its Equipment**
Zekic also highlighted the capabilities of RTS, labeling it a “media Pentagon” due to its ability to broadcast from virtually any location. This statement underscores the perceived importance of RTS in Serbia’s media landscape.
**Underlying Demands**
According to Zekic, the real demand behind the student-led protests is for Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic to step down from power. She claims that protesters are unable to express this desire directly and instead resort to vague statements about reforming REM or shutting down RTS.
As the blockade of RTS buildings continues in Belgrade and Novi Sad, Zekic’s comments shed light on the complex relationships between Serbia’s media authorities and public broadcasters. The situation remains tense, with students demanding change and the government seemingly unwilling to budge.
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