28. 01. 2005

CROATIAN PROGRAM STILL OFF AIR

NOVI SAD, January 28, 2005 – TV Novi Sad continues to broadcast without the Croatian program in its scheme. This broadcaster is currently taking legal actions against the editor of “TV Sofas” Dusica Dulic and director and editor-in-chief of “Croatian word” Zvonimir Perusic. The first hearing is scheduled for February 10. The two journalists were sued by TV Novi Sad for expressing inter-ethnic hate and their statements issued after this station had once again taken off the air the program in Croatian language “TV Sofas”. The show was first taken off the air last summer on request of the journalists working on the program. Such request was made primarily due to lack of resources. Few months later, the journalists made new verbal agreement to continue the production of the program “TV Sofas”, but this time with new production house and under new title “On Croatian trail”. No contract was however signed at the time. Speaking for B92, editor of the “TV Sofas” and “On Croatian Trail” Dusica Dulic said that, when the time had come to sign the contract, she was told that the papers were not prepared, but that this should not be a problem. However, three days prior to airing the program, she was notified that the show would not broadcast after all, since there were no contracts signed. During the following months the problem still remained unsolved, and the matter was taken to the prime ministers of Serbia and Croatia, Vojislav Kostunica and Ivo Sanader. The two officials had apparently reached the agreement on taking the program back on air of TV Novi Sad. Speaking on the Croatian national television HRT, RTS general director Aleksandar Tijanic had also announced the return of the Croatian program on TV Novi Sad, but that still has not happened. Tijanic has however confirmed today for B92 that the show would return on air in the next week or two, adding that he had also demanded the annulment of legal proceedings against Dulic and Perusic. RTV Novi Sad director Petar Jovanovic has not confirmed nor denied these statements. His secretary told B92 that Jovanovic was not willing to comment on the issue, and would not be available until the legal proceedings against Dulic and Jovanovic were settled.