|
On 14 Dec 99, the 21 member Council of RTV FBiH met for the first time at
OHR. The High Representative introduced the meeting with the following
statement:
- I want to take this opportunity to welcome you here on the occasion
of the inaugural meeting of the Council of Federation TV. Please be aware
that the foundation of this new broadcasting network is vital to my overall
restructuring strategy for public broadcasting in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
- This strategy is based upon the development of two accountable,
representative and self-sustaining entity broadcasters, supported by the
strong central pillar of a nationwide Public Broadcasting Service. It is, in
my view, entirely appropriate and necessary for the PBS and Federation TV to
develop together and I am grateful for the work already undertaken by the
Founding Board of the PBS. Mr Custovic from the Executive Committee of the
PBS Founding Board has already placed his knowledge and experience to work
in preparing this meeting and I have instructed the Board to assist you in
your work wherever possible.
- I have appointed you all and I am glad that you have accepted the
challenge. Accordingly, I should explain my expectations from this body. I
wish you to create a new public Radio Television broadcasting service in the
Federation.
- It must be in accordance with the spirit of the Dayton Peace
Agreement
- It must in accordance with the laws and constitutions of
Bosnia and Hercegovina and the Federation
- It must be in accordance with the best standards of European
public broadcasting and the principals of the UN and European conventions on
human rights
- It must be in accordance with the rules laid down by the
Independent Media Commission of Bosnia and Hercegovina
- You must not allow it to become the servant of any narrow
interest group, political, national or otherwise. It is a service owned by
all the people of the Federation, funded by their taxes and you have a
solemn duty to protect their interests and rights
- I do not underestimate the magnitude or the difficulty of the tasks
that I have laid out for you. I am fully aware of the critical statements
made by the nationalist political parties in regard to your appointment and
I acknowledge the pressures you are likely to face. I have full confidence
that this body can work together to create something new, to create a
broadcaster of the highest standards and to create a service genuinely
representative of both constituent peoples and the minorities who live in
the Federation. I now give assurances to both the Bosniac and Croat
constituent peoples that OHR will remain fully engaged in this process to
ensure full equality - ravnopravnost, or jednakopravnost, in your respective
languages - in accordance with the Federation constitution.
- Be under no illusion, I am determined to implement all decisions
regarding the media restructuring process - I will not be derailed from this
task by those who believe that broadcasters should serve and be accountable
to the political elites. You will have my full support. Thank you once again
and good luck with your task.
The Council elected Mr Kemal Hrustanovic as President of the Council and Mr
Slavo Kukic as the Vice President.
The Council discussed the establishment of the new RTV service and discussed
the priorities for the work of the Council in the New Year.
The High Representative congratulates the Council and looks forward to
following their progress throughout next year.
OHR Press Release, Sarajevo, 14 December 1999
|
