RADIO ENTERTAINMENT IN PRISTINA

Two privately-owned radio stations - one Serb and one mixed - in Pristina started broadcasting experimental radio program only a few days after Rugova and Milosevic had put their signatures on the agreement on normalization of schooling in Albaian language. Can this be called feeling of the pulse or is this really an introduction into resolving of the general problem of information in Kosovo?

AIM Pristina, 10 October, 1996

If you take any taxi in Pristina, you will listen to the same radio station and bragging of the taxi driver, who are all, regardless of their place of origin, well informed people, that he "listens to good music". Since recently, "new radio waves are also "guests" in many households in the capital of Kosovo. Where do they come from? Certainly not from the state-controlled Radio-Television Pristina, where program has not been made by employees of Albanian nationality for a long time.

It is true that for some time now, rumours have been going on that "some people" are preparing to begin broadcasting radio program. Certain names known to the public were mentioned, but most frequently it was considered to be just a wish. But, it seems that the wish has come true after all, but not for those whose profession it has been for decades. What is this all about?

For some time now, two provately-owned radio stations have been broadcasting program on FM in Pristina. Radio-Corona is located on the 16th floor of the building of the Press Club in Pristina, of the former daily Rilindja and the current daily Panorama. Its auditorium is becoming more numerous every day, it is becoming more popular among the youth. The other radio station is in a better position. It broadcasts from a private apartment located in the part of town called Sunny Hill, in a building with an antenna on its roof which causes interferences of the signals to all satellite and ordinary tv and radio antennas of all the people living in that building. Both privately-owned radio stations broadcast only musical and entertaining program 24 hours a day.

It should not even be mentioned perhaps that for normal conditions of living, this would not be news at all, because every city with more than 200 thousand inhabitants could have more than two such radio programs. But, if we just remind of the fact that Serbian authorities back in 1990 established absolute control of media in Kosovo, especially the electronic ones, shut down the only daily in Albanian language Rilindja, in other words, when not a single media of any influence was left to operate uncontrolled and when they were all the time supervised by the police, the fact that opening of two privately owned radio stations was permitted, is highly indicative. Of course, the "easily controlled media", in respect to their influence and conditions of distribution are the printed ones, so that the Serbian authorities, aware of this fact, left the valve opened for daily Bujku which took over the role of the daily Rilindja. However, in accordance with this argument, Serbian authorities have not permitted operation of any electronic media - either radio or television. Apart from the fact that it is difficult to control them, their influence is enormous and quick, and as very important for the impoverished citizens eager for information, they cost nothing.

Two years ago (to be specific, in 1994), Serbian government distributed eight channels for privately-owned radio-television stations on what it believed to be its territory, but planned none for Kosovo. This decision did not refer only to the Albanians, but also to the Serbs. It referred to Kosovo in general.

That is why the question most frequently posed in the past few days in Kosovo is how come that all at once two privately owned radio-stations appeared broadcasting their experimental program?

We have tried to get some answers in the Secretariat for Information of the local Serbian administration, directly from the Secretary himself - Bosko Drobnjak. But, to our surprise, he answered that "he has not been informed at all about the beginning of operation of these radio stations". He directed us to another address. He said that "permits for radio and television channels are issued by the Ministry of Information and Ministry of Transport and Telecommunications" of Serbia and that concerning this "problem" we should refer to these institutions.

The owner of Radio Corona, known in Pristina as a successful businessman - "Nesa from 3T company", told us that this radio station "has so far obtained only technical documentation and that it is still in the phase of experimental broadcasting". For the time being, people who run Corona wish to avoid topics from political life and informative programs. The team will stick to entertaining program and will concentrate on music, sport and entertainment. This radio station broadcasts solely in Serbian language. According to the words of the owner, the intention is to "make profit" with this radio station, which is "part of the business". If that is really true, then the owner was not yet faced with the essential question how he intends to make a profit in Kosovo by advertising solely in Serbian. As concerning money of the privately-owned firms which are controlled by citizens of Serb nationality, and even consumers themselves, it would not be enough to cover expenses for coffee for employees who are making the night program, and as for the Albanians, they should be offered something in Albanian language.

As concerning the other privately-owned radio station, it does not seem to have consolidated its experimental program yet, so it is difficult to "catch" its signal on radio waves. This radio station plans to broadcast program in Albanian language and even Albanian music. In distinction from the first, it is a mixed, Serbian-Albanian property.

Perhaps we will not have to wait for a long time to have a privately-owned radio station wake us up in the morning with a program in Albanian. But, it is still a mystery what will become of Radio-Television Pristina. Will a change occur in ownership of this firm or will everything remain as it is? According to certain information which can be heard, a businessman, Albanian, expressed his wish to buy several hours of program on Television Pristina in order to broadcast entertaining and advertising program, but noone knows what was the answer he received.

The story about awakening of the information space and the appearance of privately-owned radio stations occurred just a few days after signing of the Rugova-Milosevic agreement concerning return of Albanian pupils and students to school buildings. In this context, one might also wonder whether experimental programs of these radio stations are an experiment of the Serbian authorities and feeling of the pulse for the sake of possible opening of a privately-owned radio station in Albanian language? And after all, whether all this is just an overture for opening the issue of mass media in Kosovo, which was preceded by the mentioned agreement concerning education?

Offices of Serbian Ministry of Information are stacked with applications and documentation of the Albanians who wish to open radio-television stations. Answers of the Serbian Government have nor arrived yet. It was impossible to get any information from competent persons in the Department for electronic media and channels of the Ministry of Information. It seems that the date when broadcasting of uncontrolled information in Albanian language will begin depends on a broader resolution of the question of information in Kosovo and the status and ownership of channels of Radio-Television Pristina. Until then it will be: "Good night Kosovo, wherever you are".

Astrit SALIHU