EROTEL URGES FOR RE-BROADCASTING OF HRT PROGRAMME IN BOSNIA

MOSTAR, Jan 24 (Hina) - The Mostar-based EROTEL, which is the biggest Bosnian Croatian television house, called on the Independent Media Commission (IMC) in Sarajevo to revoke its decision on a ban on re-broadcasting programme of Croatia's state- owned radio and television (HRT)in Bosnia-Herzegovina. On Sunday, EROTEL forwarded a letter to the IMC saying that the commission had no valid legal and economic reasons for the ban on the HRT programme in Bosnia. EROTEL maintained the ban was a "political pressure", clearly disclosed in a statement of the Bosnian state-owned television (RTV BiH) director general that "the Coalition for Bosnia-Herzegovina will never allow re-broadcasting of the HRT." Since the Office of the High Representative (OHR) issued an order to reconstruct the Bosnian RTV BiH, Bosnia-Herzegovina's Croats have seen no positive moves. By their bans the IMC is trying to destroy everything that Bosnian Croats achieved by their toil and money in hard war times, read EROTEL's letter forwarded to Croatian media in Bosnia and in Croatia. EROTEL also complained about the IMC attempts not to allow the development of national TV channels in the Croatian standard language. It also stressed that in its official documents, the commission called Croats, who are one of the three constituent nations in Bosnia, only "community". The predominantly Moslem RTV BiH represents Croats in the international telecommunications union in Geneva, and allows the development of the Croatian national identity only on the mixed channels and mixed programmes, being supported by the IMC and the international community in such activities, EROTEL said. EROTEL protested against attempts to force Bosnian Croats to be separated from the culture and information coming from Croatia, the letter read. Responding to IMC complaints, EROTEL promised to change its ownership structure very soon and to pay in cash a licence for re- broadcasting foreign programmes such as films and serials, previously aired by the HRT, in the Federation of Bosnia- Herzegovina. It also informed that the HRT would not let Bosnian companies have commercials in its programmes. EROTEL warned that the possible forcible seizure of radio and television relays that did not belong to the former TV Sarajevo, would stir up protest of the Croatian population, particularly in central Bosnia. Thousands of Croats in several towns in the Federation are signing a petition for the letting HRT be present in Bosnia, EROTEL said. The IMC decision on the ban affected the existence of the Croatian national and cultural identity in Bosnian Croat-populated areas, it added. The wish of the Moslem RTV BiH television to resume the role of the HRT reminded the EROTEL leadership of the former Communist times when national feelings were repressed, the letter read. EROTEL held that IMC officials were trying to remove the HRT from the area, since it was obvious when one looks at a map that HRT was the only rival to the Bosnian Moslem television (RTV BiH). EROTEL will call on all Croatian associations and political parties to express their support to the existence of radio and television in the Croatian standard language, the letter said. (hina) ms