27. 10. 2003

RTS “on brink of collapse”

BELGRADE, October 27, 2003 – The executive committee of a union representing state media workers warned yesterday that state broadcaster Radio Television Serbia is no longer able to function because the Serbian Parliament has denied it a regular source of income. A press release signed by union leader Vojin Zivanovic lists additional problems within the company. “The fact that not a single word of criticism of negative events in society can be heard on RTS is incomprehensible. Objective and prompt reporting must be the priority of the company, whether it is called a public service or state television. “The person most responsible for the situation that RTS is currently in is certainly general director Aleksandar Crkvenjakov,” says the union in its statement. The union also lists abuse of positions, bad personnel policy, damaging contracts amounting to tens of millions of euros approved by RTS Executive Committee chairman Dejan Mijac as “only part of the mosaic which will only be put together by some new government”.