In an open letter sent to Mr Drobnic, the Institute stressed among other things that his position implied impartiality and objectivity.
We remind that in early August the European Commission asked the executive agency in charge for implementing the programme “Europe for Citizens” to suspend signing the agreement on grant to the Public Policy Institute for the project “Female Government Western Balkans”.
However, according to the Institute, the project was selected in the competition announced by the EU, among 32 countries, exclusively because of its quality.
The Institute further claims that although it is clear that the campaign against them has been lead by competitive organisation for purely financial reasons, they also took advantage of, as they put it, a lie – that the director of the Institute, Vladimir Popovic, “directly promoted unworthy campaign against the courageous activist of civil society, Vanja Calovic,” and that is why the organisation “was recognised for gender discrimination, therefore not being worthy to implement the project “Female Government Western Balkans”.
“We believe that you know that the truth is quite different, and that the court has proved that public emergence of private video of a female person sexually abusing animals has nothing to do with Mr Vladimir Popovic,” the Institute stressed.
They believe Mr Drobnic has been familiar with Article 2 of the IFJ Code of Principles (the International Federation of Journalists), which calls on “defending the principles of freedom in the honest collection and publication of news, and the right of fair comment and criticism”.
“The function you perform implies impartiality and objectivity, which is why we want you to communicate to the public of Montenegro what the standards and principles by which you make decisions and assessments are? If, as you claim, the values you advocate are principles and equal treatment of all NGOs, if you are equally taking into account respect for human rights, regardless who they are related to, then answer: What will you do about the scandalous pasquinade “Rules of a Brothel” (“Pravila bordela”) written by Zeljko Ivanovic, owner of “Vijesti”, and published on August 25th,” the Institute asked in the open letter.
According to the Institute, in this column Mr Ivanovic committed a severe form of verbal discrimination against women, comparing the female journalists of the Public Broadcaster with prostitutes.
The Institute reminded Mr Drobnic again that his position commits him to public appearances, regardless of his personal preferences.
They also asked Mr Drobnic if he believed that “establishing practice in Montenegro of assigning projects and funds to organisations for which is known in advance that they would receive them, ignoring all the criteria, such as quality and competence” was in the spirit of European values and anti-corruption standards.
