SARAJEVO, May 24 (Hina) - After a four-day stoppage, caused by a strike of its reporters and technical staff, the Sarajevo-based daily "Oslobodjenje" hit the news-stands again on Thursday. In today's issue of the oldest Bosnian daily,
long-time Oslobodjenje journalist Senka Kurtovic is named acting editor-in-chief. However, the replacement of former editor-in-chief Mirko Sagolj meets only part of the demands of dissatisfied journalists and other staff. "This is only the first but very important step. We are now facing serious efforts which should bring the company to a true recovery," Oslobodjenje workers union's leader Antonio Prlenda told Hina. The employees are not giving up their request that the daily's director Salko Hasanefendic as well as the entire supervisory board be replaced and that their outstanding salaries and other debts for health and pension insurance be paid. New replacements are to fol
SARAJEVO, May 24 (Hina) - After a four-day stoppage, caused by a
strike of its reporters and technical staff, the Sarajevo-based
daily "Oslobodjenje" hit the news-stands again on Thursday.
In today's issue of the oldest Bosnian daily, long-time
Oslobodjenje journalist Senka Kurtovic is named acting editor-in-
chief.
However, the replacement of former editor-in-chief Mirko Sagolj
meets only part of the demands of dissatisfied journalists and
other staff.
"This is only the first but very important step. We are now facing
serious efforts which should bring the company to a true recovery,"
Oslobodjenje workers union's leader Antonio Prlenda told Hina.
The employees are not giving up their request that the daily's
director Salko Hasanefendic as well as the entire supervisory board
be replaced and that their outstanding salaries and other debts for
health and pension insurance be paid.
New replacements are to follow most probably in the next 30 days. It
is expected that the current supervisory board will be replaced and
a new one appointed. The new management will make an analysis of the
situation in the daily, define ownership relations and financial
transactions.
Representatives of the Slovene company "Kmecka druzba", who are
also participating in the talks, have been on a visit to Sarajevo
for several days. The company, which is a majority owner of the
Ljubljana "Dnevnik" daily and the powerful trade concern Mercator,
had previously purchased a controlling block of shares in
"Oslobodjenje" for about two million German marks. Other
shareholders, including the employees, hold only five percent of
shares.
A 39 percent share make the Slovene investment company a strategic
partner which decides about the future of this paper, which has
existed for 58 years and is in a dire financial situation. According
to unofficial sources, the Slovene partner has prepared a programme
of consolidation of the daily, which is to be presented soon.
The daily currently has 260 employees and the average daily
circulation in the past two years did not exceed 10,000. It is
presumed the consolidation programme will include a significant
number of dismissals.
The most influential Sarajevo media and journalists' associations
in the country have been covering the strike of "Oslobodjenje"
journalists with noticeable fellow feelings, expressing their full
support.
(hina) rml