OHR RTRS News Summary, 6 April 2000

News Headlines

  • RTRS Steering Board condemns RS Telecom decision to suspend subscription billing
  • BiH Presidency discusses BiH joining EU
  • BiH Presidency meets with Italian President Ciampo
  • Serb Post Offices to pay January pensions on 7 April
  • Dodik, RS Refugee Minister Dragicevic, RS Finance Minister, Banja Luka OHR Head Hancock and Bearpark discuss refugee issues
  • Barry invites BiH citizens to vote for changes
  • Election silence begins at 07:00 hours on 7 April
  • Petritsch does not intend to change Dayton Agreement – Ferguson
  • International organizations hold press conference in Sarajevo
  • Voting in Yugoslavia for BiH elections ended on 5 April
  • Mobile phone connection between RS and Yugoslavia established
  • Tomcic and NHI delegation discuss status of Croats in BiH
  • Former Brcko Syndicate transformed into Brcko District Syndicate
  • BiH Syndicate Union President Hrle announces general strike for 14 April in BiH Federation
  • Invitation to Draskovic to come to Moscow means Moscow is moving away from Belgrade regime – Moscow Komersant
  • Unknown persons kidnap VoA Belgrade correspondent Fahri Musli
  • Two Serbs injured in explosion in Cernica, near Gnjilane – BETA
  • Human rights in Kosovo damaged more than before NATO bombardment – Dienstbier
  • Police officers needed in Kosovo more than soldiers – Cohen
  • Kosovo Party of Democratic Progress Vice-president Mahmuti resigns
  • Austrian authorities allow Kosovo Albanian refugees who believe they would be in danger upon return to remain in Austria
  • World news
  • RS Justice Minister Vrzina promises to demand ICTY suspend secret indictments
  • Karadzic arrest priority of French SFOR – French Defense Minister Richard
  • Stanari Mine expected to close due to low production
  • Festival devoted to writer Jovan Ducic begins in Trebinje
  • Sports
  • Weather
  • Lukavica secondary school receives sporting hall
  • Democratic Party for Banja Luka and Krajina supports good relations of IC with those who want to remain where they are and not return to their pre-war homes
  • Liberal Citizens Coalition supports constitution of municipalities as independent communities
  • Coalition for King and Homeland advocates Banja Luka becoming official RS capital
  • RS Peasant Laborers’ Party invites citizens to vote in great number
  • Future of BiH lies in European Council – SPO RS
  • OSCE not ready to face will of people and support election results – Democratic Patriotic Party
  • RS Radical Party invites citizens to vote for their prosperity
  • Serb People’s Homeland Movement invites citizens to turn to faith and Serb Orthodox Church
  • BiH Communist Union Vice-president Bojic invites citizens to think well of who to vote for
  • BiH Communist Union running in elections means its political test – Party President Carevic
  • SNSD supports united RS, rejects cantonization of BiH – Dodik
  • SNSD holds rally in Trebinje
  • Visegrad Independent Refugee Movement assesses its campaign as successful
  • Time that SDS defends RS from those who want to change Dayton Agreement – Sarovic
  • SDS holds rallies in Vukosavlje, Prnjavor and Lukavica
  • Poorest persons manipulated during election campaign – RS Laborers’ Party
  • Elections in BiH should show maturity of people in RS – Plavsic
  • SNS holds rally in Ribnik
  • It is necessary to preserve RS and consistently implement Dayton Agreement – Serb Patriotic Party (SPAS)
  • SPAS holds press conference on Banja Luka Heating Plant activities
  • We will not preserve our national identity if we do not cooperate with Yugoslavia – PDP President Ivanic
  • PDP Vice-president Dokic believes many invalid ballot papers will be seen at elections
  • Banja Luka is example of reforms in RS – Radisic
  • SPRS satisfied with its election campaign – SPRS Election HQ Head Cudic
  • IMC satisfied with election campaign

News Summary

RTRS Steering Board condemns RS Telecom decision to suspend subscription billing

The RTRS Steering Board condemned the RS Telecom decision to suspend RTRS subscription billing. With this decision, the survival of RTRS is directly damaged. “The RS Telecom decision is absolutely unacceptable” reads a press release. The decision of the Constitutional Court that Telecom cited as justification was published in the Official Register on 19 May 1999. Telecom regularly respected a decision for ten months, according to a contract with the RTRS Steering Board, to collect subscription payments for the station. With this act, Telecom harshly violated its contract with RTRS and became a means of political pressure on the station. The RTRS Steering Board invited Telecom to immediately reverse its decision. Otherwise, RTRS will not be able to accomplish its duties as a public service for the RS citizens. That would bring into question the overall democratic process in the RS, which is not possible without unbiased and free media. The RTRS Steering Board cannot understand this act, because it occurred just several days before the elections. “By destroying RTRS, not only one important institution, but also the future of the RS is damaged” concludes the release, signed by Board President Milos Babic.

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IMC satisfied with election campaign

The IMC issued and announcement stating that it monitored over 60 media outlets in BiH during the election campaign. The Commission is generally satisfied with respect of the IMC Code on fair access to the media during this period. There were only several instances of disrespect of equal access to the media or inflammatory language. The IMC is encouraged by the fact that political figures recognized the need for such a regulatory body.

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