Newsroom
Warning issued to Kosovo Serb radio station
PRISTINA 25 July 2000
PRISTINA, 25 July 2000 - The Temporary Media Commissioner (TMC) has issued a warning to a Serb-language radio station for violating the Broadcast Media Regulation and operating without a licence but has said he's satisfied with the response provided by the "Kosovarija" magazine to the warning letter sent to them on 21 July.
Radio S, which is based in Zvecan, submitted an incomplete licence application form to the Office of the TMC. The station should have ceased broadcasting by 19 July as a result of its failure to do so but remained on air. The TMC had opened a two week window of opportunity between 22 June and 5 July to enable local radio and television operators, who had previously submitted incomplete application forms for broadcast licences, to re-submit their applications. New applications were also accepted during this period.
A total of 77 completed radio and television applications were received by the deadline, including 18 new ones. All these are now being assessed by the Temporary Media Commissioner. Those who did not apply for a licence or who, once again, submitted incomplete applications, such as Radio S, will not be considered for a licence to broadcast.
UNMIK Regulation 2000/36 on the Licencing and Regulation of the Broadcast Media in Kosovo stipulates that all radio and television operators must be licenced by the TMC before they can broadcast. To date, twelve broadcast outlets have received temporary licences from the TMC.
Meanwhile, the TMC has said he is satisfied with the response given by "Kosovarija" magazine to the warning letter issued by him on 21 July over an article found to be in breach of the Print Regulation. The magazine's editor-in-chief said "Kosovarija" had "seriously considered and understood" the TMC's warning, adding: "We would like to assure you that we will not repeat our mistake again." The TMC, Mr Douglas Davidson, commended "Kosovarija" for its response.
Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe - Mission in KosovoFor further information, contact OSCE Spokesperson Roland Bless Tel: (+381-38) 500-162 or satphone: 871-762-009-948 ext. 260 / mobile: (+389-70) 250-576 / email: [email protected], //www.osce.org/kosovo/
Radio S, which is based in Zvecan, submitted an incomplete licence application form to the Office of the TMC. The station should have ceased broadcasting by 19 July as a result of its failure to do so but remained on air. The TMC had opened a two week window of opportunity between 22 June and 5 July to enable local radio and television operators, who had previously submitted incomplete application forms for broadcast licences, to re-submit their applications. New applications were also accepted during this period.
A total of 77 completed radio and television applications were received by the deadline, including 18 new ones. All these are now being assessed by the Temporary Media Commissioner. Those who did not apply for a licence or who, once again, submitted incomplete applications, such as Radio S, will not be considered for a licence to broadcast.
UNMIK Regulation 2000/36 on the Licencing and Regulation of the Broadcast Media in Kosovo stipulates that all radio and television operators must be licenced by the TMC before they can broadcast. To date, twelve broadcast outlets have received temporary licences from the TMC.
Meanwhile, the TMC has said he is satisfied with the response given by "Kosovarija" magazine to the warning letter issued by him on 21 July over an article found to be in breach of the Print Regulation. The magazine's editor-in-chief said "Kosovarija" had "seriously considered and understood" the TMC's warning, adding: "We would like to assure you that we will not repeat our mistake again." The TMC, Mr Douglas Davidson, commended "Kosovarija" for its response.
Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe - Mission in KosovoFor further information, contact OSCE Spokesperson Roland Bless Tel: (+381-38) 500-162 or satphone: 871-762-009-948 ext. 260 / mobile: (+389-70) 250-576 / email: [email protected], //www.osce.org/kosovo/