BHRT on the verge of complete collapse: RTRs owes 104 million KM, program broadcast even during war, and shutting down in peacetime!

(Patria) - After BHRT interrupted its regular programming today, broadcasting only news according to the 12 PM schedule, an extraordinary press conference was held.

BHRT states that this is just a warning of what the situation could become in just a few days.

Belmin Karamehmedović, acting General Director of BHRT, said that this is nothing new but a consequence of unlawful behavior.

“RTRs stopped paying funds from the RTV fee in 2017, and that’s when the problems started. We warned that the problems would only accumulate, and there were no concrete results to ensure the law was respected. We approached the courts, and thanks to an appeal to the Constitutional Court of BiH, it was clearly stated that our rights were violated, and it will take time to bring these processes to an end,” said Karamehmedović.

The debt of RTRs currently amounts to over 104 million KM.

“Why we decided today to show what will happen. This is not the end of BHRT and BH Radio 1 programming. Today is the deadline given by the EBU for BHRT to settle a debt of 22 million KM. We did not have the funds to settle this debt; in a way, it is also the state’s obligation because we were founded by the Parliament. Since nothing has been resolved by today, we decided to warn our viewers and listeners what will happen if there is no action. If the EBU initiates account blocking procedures, we will have some possibility to respond, and it is questionable how much longer we can endure. There are significant obligations towards employees, and 60 percent of them have minimum wages. BHRT was established by a law adopted in the BiH Parliament and can only be shut down by law. But unfortunately, it will be shut down soon due to obligations it cannot meet and obligations to the European broadcaster,” said Karamehmedović.

Director of BHT 1, Neda Tadić, said that they had been considering for days whether to take such a radical step.

“Most BHRT employees experienced this very emotionally. Even colleagues who remember the war said they don’t remember it being like this and that the program was running. We have hit a wall and started relying on improvisation; we do not have the conditions for a public service to operate. We lack basic necessities and have less and less money for field trips. Our equipment is breaking down, the sets are collapsing, and we wonder if they will collapse during the program. People are leaving, and the biggest loss is that they are seeking jobs that can provide some security. If there is no significant change, I fear we will have to cancel some shows, and there will be more reruns and archival programs. We will give our best until the last day, and whether it comes to an end is up to the state. They have brought us to a point where we are seeking respect for the law and our basic rights in this manner,” said Tadić.

Karamehmedović emphasized that they do not have much time for solutions and need help immediately, whether in the form of a loan or a credit that will be repaid.

“In other cases, the High Representative Christian Schmidt reacted, as in the Viaduct affair. There are funds from the Central Bank of BiH, RAK. We need an urgent solution. This action of ours has resonated throughout Europe; that is our information,” said the director.

Tadić emphasized that BHRT has been the guardian of history and tradition for the past 80 years.

“BHRT is not dependent on any political party, nor does any have a direct influence on its editorial policy,” said Tadić.

She noted that in recent days, instead of paying meal allowances to employees, BHRT chose to pay for the broadcasting rights of the Winter Olympic Games.

“We worked in the public interest. Citizens enjoyed the Olympic Games. We were a window to the world during those days, but at our own expense,” she added.

Vedran Prodić, on behalf of the Director of BH Radio 1, Dejan Kerleta, said that the interruption of the program caused anxiety among all employees who are still giving their maximum in program production today.

Karamehmedović pointed out that the EBU is ready to write off the interest, making the debt to them 15 million KM.

“Even if some miracle happens, we would have to pay VAT, which means all the funds we receive would return to the payment system of the state or the Federation of BiH. If we pay the debt to EP BiH of 2 million KM, that money would return to EP BiH’s flows, and BHRT would not keep it. Those who are working on the destruction of BiH very organizedly are clearly hoping that BHRT will cease to operate as soon as possible. BHRT’s obligations, when interest is deducted, are less than the debt of RTRs to us,” said Karamehmedović.

The shutdown of BHRT means the cessation of programming for Radiotelevizija FBiH (FTV) as well, which uses the premises of the RTV Home, TV Sarajevo.