(AMARC/IFEX) – AMARC-Europe forwards the following information from the Association of Independent Electronic Media in Yugoslavia (ANEM). On September 1, Radio B92 received a note from Radio Television Serbia’s (RTS) General Manager Dragoljub Milanovic to the effect that B92 should remove its transmitter from the RTS facility as soon as possible, not later than November […]
(AMARC/IFEX) – AMARC-Europe forwards the following information from the
Association of Independent Electronic Media in Yugoslavia (ANEM).
On September 1, Radio B92 received a note from Radio Television Serbia’s
(RTS) General Manager Dragoljub Milanovic to the effect that B92 should
remove its transmitter from the RTS facility as soon as possible, not later
than November 1. The note said that the Yugoslav Telecommunications Ministry
would thereupon inspect the facility and take legal measures if necessary.
Taking the RTS note as a hint of a possible clumsy attempt by the
authorities to disrupt Radio B92’s broadcasts once again, B92’s general
manager Sasa Mirkovic has informed Mr. Milanovic that the note is confusing
as it calls for an impossible task. The transmitter in case is, in fact, the
property of RTS and Radio B92 has no rights over it nor does B92 staff even
have access to it.
In his note to Mr. Milanovic, Mr. Mirkovic underlined that B92 held a valid
ten-year contract with the RTS on business cooperation signed in 1996, which
obliged RTS to broadcast B92 programs though this transmitter, maintain the
transmitter and extend any permits required for the operation of that
transmitter.
Mr. Mirkovic said that any disruption in Radio B92’s broadcasts would
represent a grave breach of obligations the RTS has under this contract,
adding that not only would that inflict damage on B92 for which the RTS
would be liable, but it would also be a clear sign that the state, using the
RTS as its agent, was intent on entering into open showdown with the
independent radio station whose program is the core of the joint programming
of the media outlets gathered in the
Association of Independent Electronic Media in Yugoslavia (ANEM), which
cover almost the entire territory of FR Yugoslavia.
Radio B92 will take all necessary steps to protect its own unhindered
broadcasts. Radio B92 also calls on all individuals and institutions engaged
in the protection of media freedom to exert their influence on the Yugoslav
authorities to stop immediately the shameful and illegal campaign of
closures of ANEM’s affiliates, which is now directly targeted at a possible
disruption of Radio B92’s broadcasts.
According to the Belgrade daily “Dnevni Telegraf” (DT) of September 7, 1998,
The Yugoslav Federal Telecommunications Ministry is deliberately preparing
another attempt to shut down Radio B92 and Radio Index. The sources said
that now, when Kosovo is the only political event in the country, is the
ideal opportunity to close the two leading independent radio stations in
Serbia.
Although Radio Index and B92 said that they expected “attacks from the
state” over the summer and vacations “when everything is quiet”, the DT’s
source explained that the fall is an equally favourable season: “Populace
has been completely uninterested for a long time now, even for much
‘stronger’ political events in the country. There is practically no
opposition, apart from the parties like the Democratic Party, the Civic
Alliance of Serbia and the Democratic Party of Serbia, which no longer sway
any influence; there is nobody to stand up in the media’s defence. The
situation is completely reversed from the time when the government attempted
to ban Index and B92 the last time, during the 1996 demonstrations.”
However, Veran Matic, Radio B92’s Editor-In-Chief, said he expected civic
support yet again, adding that his radio has survived owing to massive
support from the populace. Radio Index has a similar position: Aleksandar
Vasic, Deputy Chief Editor, said they too expected civic support.
