EU Parliament Resolution's Wording 'Echoes Cold War Rhetoric'

The European Parliament’s resolution that equaled Russian media to Islamist propaganda and urged to counter its world view raised eyebrows with Serbia’s Union of Journalists, whose chairwoman said the decision was scandalous.

BELGRADE (Sputnik) — The resolution was backed by 304 parliamentarians and opposed by 179 members in the 751-member legislative body, falling significantly short of a majority. Further 208 members abstained.

"We have been unpleasantly surprised by the European Parliament’s measure. The resolution is totally unacceptable, its wording echoes Cold War rhetoric, and equaling Russian media to Daesh is scandalous," Ljiljana Smajlovi told RIA Novosti.

The initiative was launched by Anna Elzbieta Fotyga, of Poland, who drew parallel between Russian strategic communication and propaganda disseminated by the Daesh terrorist group, which is banned in Russia and many other countries.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said the move demonstrated a "degradation" of the democratic idea in the West. He praised the news agency Sputnik and the international broadcaster RT for their work, saying he hoped the resolution would not entail any media curbs.