ZAGREB, Nov 18 (Hina) - The Croatian Government on Thursday appealed to the international community's High Representative in Bosnia-Herzegovina, Wolfgang Petritsch, and Bosnian Croat officials, urging them to resume dialogue and try
to find an acceptable solution to the problem of the Mostar TV station 'Erotel'. The Government called on the international community to find a solution which would be acceptable to the Bosnian Croat people, i.e. that 'Erotel' be allowed to continue operating and re-broadcasting programmes of the Croatian Television (HTV) first channel until a Croatian channel on the Federation television is organised, said Milan Kovac, Croatia's minister in charge of special relations with the Federation of Bosnia-Herzegovina and Bosnia-Herzegovina. Kovac said this at a news conference after a Government session, which was held behind closed doors. The Independent Media Commission (IMC) in Bos
ZAGREB, Nov 18 (Hina) - The Croatian Government on Thursday
appealed to the international community's High Representative in
Bosnia-Herzegovina, Wolfgang Petritsch, and Bosnian Croat
officials, urging them to resume dialogue and try to find an
acceptable solution to the problem of the Mostar TV station
'Erotel'.
The Government called on the international community to find a
solution which would be acceptable to the Bosnian Croat people,
i.e. that 'Erotel' be allowed to continue operating and re-
broadcasting programmes of the Croatian Television (HTV) first
channel until a Croatian channel on the Federation television is
organised, said Milan Kovac, Croatia's minister in charge of
special relations with the Federation of Bosnia-Herzegovina and
Bosnia-Herzegovina.
Kovac said this at a news conference after a Government session,
which was held behind closed doors.
The Independent Media Commission (IMC) in Bosnia recently banned
'Erotel' from broadcasting its programmes after the station
refused a temporary broadcasting licence for 11 transmitters,
instead of 48 the station had been using.
Croatia's Deputy Foreign Minister Ivo Sanader believes the IMC
decision on banning 'Erotel' from operating was made at a very
sensitive, pre-election time. "One should have thought about
that", he said.
Minister Kovac reminded the Government had been informed last week
about the 'Erotel' case, during a visit to Zagreb by a Bosnian Croat
delegation, lead by BH Presidency chairman Ante Jelavic, who said
the Bosnian Croat leadership did not agree with the drastic
limitation of 'Erotel's functioning.
Kovac said he could not escape the feeling that the decision was
contrary to the aims proclaimed by the international community on
the return of all to their homes, and the equality of all BH peoples.
The latest case of the media treatment, the election bill the
international community is trying to adopt, which is the least
favourable for the least numerous nation - Croats, and the
introduction of the border police - all this leads to the conclusion
that this is about a synchronised operation aimed at jeopardising
the survival of Croats as a sovereign nation, Kovac said.
Answering a reporter's question, Kovac said he hoped there would be
no forcible banning of 'Erotel's work through military operations.
He believed the talks would resume and a favourable solution for all
parties would be found.
The Minister of Maritime Affairs, Transport and Communications,
Ivan Pavlovic, said that 'Erotel', as a legal entity, was the owner
or user of some 150 transmitters and other equipment in Bosnia-
Herzegovina. By limiting 'Erotel' broadcasts to only five per cent
of the territory of the BH Federation considerably reduces and
limits the right of the Croat people to information, he said.
Pavlovic said the 'Erotel' ownership structure included the Croat
community of Herzeg-Bosnia with 51%, Eronet with 25% and Croatian
Radio Television (HRT) with 24%.
Kovac and Sanader reminded about the commitments from the Dayton
and Washington agreements. Croatia strongly supports their
fulfilment, Sanader said.
(hina) jn rml