BHRT: The issue of pension contributions remains open, the Croatian language will be more emphasized in the realization of Večernjak's Seal

(Patria) - The state public radio-television service has provided answers to Patria's inquiry. However, although we did not receive precise answers to all our questions, we are publishing the answer we received from the Public Relations Department of BHRT.
Below are the questions we sent to the general directors of BHRT and BHT, Belmin Karamehmedović and Mario Vrankić.

1. Given that BHRT is still in a precarious financial situation, and that you have difficulties with salary payments and contributions, has anything changed since the start of RTV fee collection? Are salaries regular, or do employees still not receive their salary every month?
2. BHRT is the official media that will broadcast Večernjak's Seal. Can you explain the economic viability of carrying out this event and whether a contract has been signed to regulate mutual rights and obligations? What costs will BHRT incur due to the realization of this program? Will it be done with HD equipment, does BHRT own it or will it have to rent it? Is it true that you have made BHRT studios (A, B, C) available, as well as teams of people who are staying in Mostar and Banja Luka? Who pays these people and why is this being done? Given the difficult financial situation BHRT is in, is this not a waste of the public service's resources?
3. Is it true that presenters, and there are several of them, as well as journalists who will be engaged in the realization of the Seal, are asked/required/ordered to speak exclusively in Croatian, regardless of their mother tongue, and why is this being done and who ordered it?
4. Do you consider it justified to use resources and funds for the realization of an event organized by a daily newspaper? What benefit should your viewers have and what type of program is Večernjak's Seal?

The answer we received:

„Due to the unresolved financing method, BHRT has been operating under impossible conditions since 2017, after RTRS left the public broadcasting system and illegally withheld fee funds, owing BHRT over 80 million KM. Regardless of this, we strive to meet all obligations towards employees, so all net salaries, hot meal allowances, and transportation allowances have been paid, while the issue of pension contributions remains open.

With the maximum commitment of all employees, regular program production has been maintained, in accordance with our schedule, assumed obligations, as well as obligations arising from the Law, the RAK license, and generally our position as the public media service of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Currently, the money collected by Elektroprivreda BiH since the beginning of March is held in the accounts of that public company, as an agreement has not yet been reached between BHRT and RTV Federation of BiH on the method of distributing these funds.

BHRT has been a media partner of Večernjak's Seal for many years, one of the most significant events of its kind in the region, which annually promotes hundreds of citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina who achieve success in various fields worldwide in a positive way. Given that one of the tasks of the public service is to participate in all major projects in BiH where there is public interest and interest from the organizer for cooperation, BHRT is also a reliable partner in this case, providing, above all, program and production support within its capabilities and engaging the necessary capacities in the realization of such events, as we have been doing for years with all significant events in our country and beyond. Of course, BHRT always, including in the realization of such events, adheres to our general editorial principles and obligations to support projects that present BiH in a positive light.

Radiotelevizija Bosne i Hercegovine, as stated in the Law, produces and broadcasts programs in 3 languages and 2 scripts, which is evident daily in all our programs, and we are the only media that consistently treats and ensures language equality for everyone in BiH. In this context, we strive for the Croatian language to be equally represented in program content.

Of course, there is no request for the exclusive use of the Croatian language when it comes to Večernjak's Seal, but since it is an event whose main organizer is “Večernji list BiH”, it is possible that the Croatian language will be more emphasized in the realization of this project (due to guests, participants, etc.). However, we reiterate that Radiotelevizija Bosne i Hercegovine takes care of the equality of languages and scripts, but of course, there is no “order”, as you state, that the Croatian language must be used in the realization of Večernjak's Seal,” they stated in the response.
BHRT thus refused to answer what costs it incurs from the realization of this event, whether a cooperation agreement has been signed, and what the economic viability of broadcasting a private event is.