News Headlines
- BiH Presidency does not agree on draft of border service law
- BiH Parliamentary Assembly House of Representatives adopts agenda for 1999
- RS Government has no legal role in naming RTV RS General Director – US Embassy
- International organizations hold press conference in Sarajevo
- European Commission for Media disappointed with RS Government decision on RTV RS General Director
- International organizations hold press conference in Banja Luka
- If RS and BiH Federation authorities do not implement law on property rights, IC will undertake certain measures against them – Hoffman
- SNS says RS Government decision legally inconsistent
- SNSD supports RS Government decision on RT RS General Director
- 8th RS National Assembly session to continue on 10 November
- Hand grenade thrown at Serb house in Gnjilane – Gnjilane Church Board
- Orthodox church burned in Donji Zakut, near Podujevo – KFOR
- Kosovo citizens must replace violence with peace – Reinhardt
- Necessary to provide absolute safety for Serbs – Kosovska Mitrovica UN Head Garrod
- Uncertainty on political status of Kosovo brings foreign investments there into question – World Bank
- Yugoslav Foreign Minister Jovanovic concerned over violence in Kosovo – BETA
- Serbian Assembly agrees to discuss extraordinary elections in Serbia
- Alliance for Change organizes demonstrations in Belgrade
- Over 50 students injured in Belgrade demonstrations
- Students in Banja Luka protest not being allowed to study at Philosophy Faculty
- RS Education Ministry press release on establishment of International Sports Faculty
- Professors and Ministry for Refugees and DPs receive September salaries – RS Finance Ministry
- Banja Luka Incel Holding demands RS Government pay them seven back salaries or they will go on strike
- Conference on Dayton Agreement results to be held in Dayton on 13 and 14 November
- ICTY trial of six Croats who committed crimes in Ahmici during Bosnian war
- 29 bodies exhumed in Vitez, Busovaca, Jajce and Travnik
- Mostar authorities to start resolving property requests
- Over 140 Serbs returned to Capljina – UNHCR
- SDS, SRS and Serb Coalition for RS to take part in RS National Assembly session with unique position on all points of agenda
- Djokic, Dragicevic, Gligoric and RS Goods Reserve representative Nozica visit Lopare
- Albanians throw stones at Serb convoy in Kosovo – BETA
- IMC has not received formal response from EROTEL
- Prnjavor police find marijuana field
- Zvezdara Theater actors hold press conference in Modrica
- Miss BiH disqualified for Miss World Pageant
- World News
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News Summary
RS Government has no legal role in naming RTV RS General Director – US Embassy
The US Embassy in BiH issued an announcement stating that they strongly support High Representative Wolfgang Petritsch‘s efforts in towards media reform in BiH. On 8 November, the OHR and OSCE published that the RS National Assembly and Government have no legal role in naming the general director of RTV RS. Public statements opposing this claim have no legal authority. Andjelko Kozomara still remains in his function as RT RS General Director.
00:36
International organizations hold press conference in Sarajevo
Deputy High Representative for Media Simon Haselock stated that the RS National Assembly and Government have no legal role in naming the general director of RTV RS and that public statements contradicting this have no legal grounds. He added that recent statements of the RS Education Ministry and SRNA Director present a threat to media independence in BiH. Haselock believes that the RS Information Minister should not use SRNA as an instrument for endangering RTV RS and attack RTV RS employees. Haselock concluded that if it is true that the RS Government intends to annul the law on RTV RS, then that would jeopardize their position on accepting the standards necessary for BiH to join European integration. OSCE spokesperson Tanya Domi stated that freedom of media in BiH should be one of the most important factors in the process of democratization. She added that attacks on reporters are acts of intimidation by those who still believe in the rule of fear and violence. She quoted the example of the attack on Doboj journalist Mirko Srdic and assessed it as a continuation of threats with the aim to obstruct freedom of media.
01:50
European Commission for Media disappointed with RS Government decision on RT RS General Director
European Commission for Media spokesperson Frane Marojevic stated at a press conference in Banja Luka that the Commission is disappointed with the RS Government decision on RTV RS General Director Andjelko Kozomara and that only the RTV RS Steering Board has the right to appoint the director. However, the Board did not discuss this issue. The EC also supports the request that elected RS representatives respect the principles of public broadcasting services.
00:42
SNS says RS Government decision legally inconsistent
SNS Head of Information Service Ostoja Barasanin stated that the SNS does not support the RS Government decision on RTV RS General Director Andjelko Kozomara and that this decision is legally inconsistent. They insist that this issue be resolved according to the law, including the law on enterprises, RTV RS Statute and position of the Independent Media Commission. SNS Vice-president Branislav Lolic stated that the SNS would take their position on the decision of RS Government at their session Tuesday evening. They expect a successful continuation of the RS National Assembly session on 10 November. Barasanin stated that SNS running in the local elections individually, and not as a member within the Sloga Coalition, is a test for their participation in municipal authority. Barasanin said that the recent statement by SNS Voce-president Jovan Mitrovic that the RS Government must be restructured was Mitrovic’s personal opinion and that the SNS attitudes towards the Government are constructive and directed towards its strengthening.
01:32
IMC has not received formal response from EROTEL
Deputy High Representative for Media Simon Haselock stated at a press conference in Sarajevo that the IMC has not yet received a formal response from EROTEL and that it is completely clear that problems with this TV outlet and HRT come from Zagreb and not Croat authorities in BiH. Haselock added that BiH Presidency Chairman Ante Jelavic publicly and privately supported the process of media reconstruction and that he and his colleagues understand that it is a process and not politics that are in question.
00:31