Newsroom
Kosovo-wide radio licences awarded
PRISTINA 12 December 2000
PRISTINA, 12 December 2000 - On 11 December 2000, a panel chaired by the Temporary Media Commissioner (TMC) decided to award broadcast licenses for the two available Kosovo-wide radio frequencies to Radio 21 and Radio Dukagjini.
The panel consisted of five people: The TMC Mr Simon Haselock, Mr Gernot Eberle the OSCE Head of Licensing, Mr George Wairoma from UNMIK Post and Telecommunications, Mr Fatmir Berisha representing the Association of Kosovo Broadcasters and Mr Vehap Shita representing the Centre for Human Rights and Freedoms as nominated by the Association of Kosovo Journalists.
The panel considered seven applications from: Radio 21, Radio Mitrovica, Radio Dukagjini, Radio Rilindja, Radio Kosova e Lire, Radio Helix and Radio Nevi.
The panel scored the application documentation presented and a series of 5 standard questions, that were asked of each applicant, on a ranges, depending on the question between 1-10 or 1-20. These scores were recorded by each panel member independently and placed in a sealed envelope. Each applicant was also allocated a period for an exchange of free questioning as an opportunity to clarify any doubts or detail. This period was scored on a range of 1-20.
Each applicant was interviewed separately and briefed on the process. Following the interviews the sealed score sheets were opened in the presence of all the applicants and the total scores for each application were calculated. The two that received the highest scores will be awarded the licenses to broadcast Kosovo-wide.
Radio 21 and Radio Dukagjini received the highest scores and will therefore be awarded the licenses.
All present were informed of their right to appeal this decision to the Media Appeals Board within 30 days of the panel s decision, in other words by 11 January 2001.
For further information, contact the OSCE Mission in Kosovo Press Office, tel.:(+381-38) 500-162 or satphone: 871-762-009-948, ext. 260 e-mail: press@omik.org or website: //www.osce.org/kosovo
The panel consisted of five people: The TMC Mr Simon Haselock, Mr Gernot Eberle the OSCE Head of Licensing, Mr George Wairoma from UNMIK Post and Telecommunications, Mr Fatmir Berisha representing the Association of Kosovo Broadcasters and Mr Vehap Shita representing the Centre for Human Rights and Freedoms as nominated by the Association of Kosovo Journalists.
The panel considered seven applications from: Radio 21, Radio Mitrovica, Radio Dukagjini, Radio Rilindja, Radio Kosova e Lire, Radio Helix and Radio Nevi.
The panel scored the application documentation presented and a series of 5 standard questions, that were asked of each applicant, on a ranges, depending on the question between 1-10 or 1-20. These scores were recorded by each panel member independently and placed in a sealed envelope. Each applicant was also allocated a period for an exchange of free questioning as an opportunity to clarify any doubts or detail. This period was scored on a range of 1-20.
Each applicant was interviewed separately and briefed on the process. Following the interviews the sealed score sheets were opened in the presence of all the applicants and the total scores for each application were calculated. The two that received the highest scores will be awarded the licenses to broadcast Kosovo-wide.
Radio 21 and Radio Dukagjini received the highest scores and will therefore be awarded the licenses.
All present were informed of their right to appeal this decision to the Media Appeals Board within 30 days of the panel s decision, in other words by 11 January 2001.
For further information, contact the OSCE Mission in Kosovo Press Office, tel.:(+381-38) 500-162 or satphone: 871-762-009-948, ext. 260 e-mail: press@omik.org or website: //www.osce.org/kosovo