EROTEL'S APPEAL DOES NOT POSTPONE IMPLEMENTATION OF IMC DECISION

SARAJEVO, Dec 2 (Hina) - The Independent Media Commission (IMC) in Bosnia-Herzegovina on Tuesday confirmed Mostar's television station Erotel had forwarded a complaint to a previously offered broadcast permit on time, but also warned that this does not bring into question the order for the station to cease transmission. Erotel's complaint will be discussed by the IMC Council at a session on December 9. In the meantime, the decision made by the IMC general director Krister Thelin on November 15, ordering Erotel to terminate broadcasts because it had not accepted an offered temporary permit. Deputy High Representative to Bosnia-Herzegovina in charge of the media, Simon Haselock, said in Sarajevo the High Representative's Office had with interest received the news about the dismissal of Erotel's Management Board. Haselock confirmed that negotiations about the status of the television station were still being held, but that the Office of the High Representative was in constant contact with the Stabilisation Force Command with relations to Erotel's status. He said the international community wished for a solution regarding the issue to come by via diplomatic means. (hina) lml