SARAJEVO, Aug 20 (Hina) - Bosniak Radio and Television (BRT) in Sarajevo on Sunday announced a complaint against a decision of the Independent Media Commission in Bosnia-Herzegovina to ban the BRT transmissions because of its
unregulated legal status. The BRT management said they would use all means necessary to ensure further operation of the network, in line with IMC regulations. The BRT management also stated they had submitted to the IMC all requested documents proving the legal status of the network and which explained the means of operations. The decision not to grant the station 'International' a permanent broadcasting licence was made on Friday by IMC's director Krister Thelin, who also ordered that the station cease broadcasting its programmes. In a statement issued in Sarajevo Saturday the IMC recalled that the station had been granted a temporary broadcasting licence on May 18 1999. Th
SARAJEVO, Aug 20 (Hina) - Bosniak Radio and Television (BRT) in
Sarajevo on Sunday announced a complaint against a decision of the
Independent Media Commission in Bosnia-Herzegovina to ban the BRT
transmissions because of its unregulated legal status.
The BRT management said they would use all means necessary to ensure
further operation of the network, in line with IMC regulations.
The BRT management also stated they had submitted to the IMC all
requested documents proving the legal status of the network and
which explained the means of operations.
The decision not to grant the station 'International' a permanent
broadcasting licence was made on Friday by IMC's director Krister
Thelin, who also ordered that the station cease broadcasting its
programmes.
In a statement issued in Sarajevo Saturday the IMC recalled that the
station had been granted a temporary broadcasting licence on May 18
1999.
The statement also said the IMC defined International as a public
radio and TV station given the financial support it received from
different sources.
However, it was clear that during the procedure of issuing the
licence the station wanted to falsely present facts with the aim of
keeping its status as a private station, the statement read.
The IMC believes that the station is not a private but a public
station, closely linked with the Party of Democratic Action (SDA),
the statement read.
According to the statement, the SDA president and BH Presidency
member, Alija Izetbegovic, has been authorised by the state of
Qatar to realise its donation to the station. According to IMC
regulations, Qatar cannot be a donor because it is not a member of
the Peace Implementation Council (PIC), the IMC said.
The IMC further claimed that the station did not demonstrate
compliance with IMC obligations regarding royalties and other
general legal provisions which are of crucial importance for any
station to be able to apply for a permanent licence.
The BRT was to cease broadcasting Saturday, but has continued to
operate normally through Sunday.
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