20. 10. 2009

ANEM DEMANDS RADIO "KONTAKT PLUS" FROM KOSOVSKA MITROVICA BE ALLOWED TO CONTINUE WORK IMMEDIATELY

Belgrade, October 20, 2009 - The Association of Independent Electronic Media (ANEM) strongly protests the actions that blocked the work of Radio "Kontakt Plus", member of ANEM from Kosovska Mitrovica.

Arbitrary actions of the management of Trepca, which has yesterday, on October 19, 2009, used security personnel to prevent the journalists of the radio "Kontakt Plus" from entering the premises of the station in the northern part of Kosovska Mitrovica, practically made impossible the work of the best-rated radio station broadcasting in Serbian language in Kosovo and Metohija.

ANEM is aware of the fact that Radio "Kontakt Plus" is late with payment of rent for the business premises on the basis of contract concluded with Trepca, but the contract does not in any way allow Trepca to arbitrarily limit movement of journalists and in this way prevent broadcasting of programme.

ANEM calls on the officials to allow unhindered business operation of the radio station "Kontakt Plus", which is crucially important in delivering information to the Serbian community in Kosovo and Metohija, and to do everything in their power to help solve the issue of debt of Radio "Kontakt Plus" in a way that is in accordance with the signed contracts and the law, without arbitrary impeding the work of journalists and members of the editorial team of this media outlet.

ANEM is especially concerned because of the information indicating that Trepca has been renting its premises to Radio "Kontakt Plus" under discriminatory conditions as compared to other media outlets.

ANEM expresses its full solidarity with the employees of Radio "Kontakt Plus" and calls on everyone in a position to help to do so and allow Radio "Kontakt Plus" to continue its business activities.

President of ANEM, Sasa Mirkovic