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CONTACT RADIO PRISTINA – 89.8 MHz FM

Kurzfassung deutsch: Radio KONTAKT und Radio KONTAKT PLUS - Multiethnisches Radio für alle Bevölkerungsgruppen in Kosov@

Web: http://www.contactnet.org/

• Background

The Pristina-based “Contact” Radio was founded in Jun 1998, as an open, communicative and informative RADIO that LINKS people regardless of their ethnicity, religious or political affiliation. The Contact Radio was the first multi-ethnic radio station in Kosovo broadcasting in Albanian, Serbian and Turkish languages and special radio shows intended for the Roma ethnic communities in the province. Right from the start, the Milosevic regime tried to shut us down. After two weeks broadcasting, on the night of July 1st 1998, inspectors from Belgrade accompanied by 25-30 heavily armed Serbian police officers sealed off our studio and confiscated our transmitter. But Radio Contact preserved and multiethnic editorial staff continued with various activities. From December 1998 till 23 march 1999, we broadcast daily 15 – minute radio show in Serbian language through the BBC-ANEM satellite. The radio programme was aired in collaboration with the Koha Radio and Radio 21, Albanian language radio stations from Pristina. During the NATO bombardment the eight young journalists, Albanian, Muslim and Serbian had to leave Pristina, and most of them did not return to their hometown yet. All the studio equipment was stolen during this period.

In July 1999, after the arrival of international troops, we assembled a new team, obtained new equipment and set up our operation on the 14th floor of a Pristina Media House.

In new building without running water, heating and very often even electricity, with rats roaming freely around the offices, we had to trudge up and down 28 flights of stairs several times a day because the elevator was out of order. We managed to work even without telephone lines and Internet access, but still our major problem was SECURITY for non-Albanian journalist who had no right to use their native language.

Till today the Contact radio had thus far been exposed to attacks and threat a number of times. In November 1999, unknown criminals stole our clearly marked official car. The next month our broadcasting equipment, including a brand new transmitter went missing. On the night of April 17th 2000 editorial and management team of Contact radio hardly survived grenade attack when building where was our official flat – the only non-Albanian flat in the block, was targeted. In Jun 2000, Valentina  Cukic, the editor of the Serbian language program on Contact Radio was shot and seriously wounded in Mother Theresa Street in the centre of Pristina while wearing KFOR press identification. After surgery in a British field hospital, Valentina recovered and continued her work in Contact Plus radio in Northern part of Mitrovica.

In November 1999, we were licensed (temporary) by OSCE and granted with official frequency 89.1 MHz FM (by KFOR). After the elections in Kosovo, Contact radio got official work license (permanent) and new frequency – 89.8 MHz FM.

Despite all problems, the Pristina-based “Contact” Radio is still a multi-ethnic, independent and open radio station seeking to provide the citizens of Pristina and Kosovo with professional and objective information from unbiased sources, from whole region, including Serbia. Radio Contact employs 30- 35 people: Albanians, Serb, Bosnian, Turkish, Goran, who produce 24 hour broadcasts - information bulletins, radio shows, jingles and spots in Albanian, Turkish and Serbian. Working together they share same problems and challenges, proving that there is some room for cooperation between different ethnic communities in Kosovo, especially Serbs and Albanians.

Target group is urban population age: 19 – 35, youth, minorities communities, internal displaced persons, specific groups within the target group, such as women, children, and open-minded people. Coverage area is about 80 km, or 600-700,000 people.

• Goals and activities

The radio provides Kosovo’s citizens with accurate and objective information from impartial sources (BETA, Fonet, ATA, Montena Fax, Onasa, Stina news agencies). We rebroadcast information services provided by DW (in Albanian and Serbian) and the Free Europe, and Radio B-92 of Belgrade (in Serbian and Albanian). The purpose of the news services is to make our information more complete, and unveil all aspects of burning questions in Kosovo. We also produce Contact NEWS - central information programme in Albanian, Serbian and Turkish language. Contact radio Pristina started with producing jingles and spots “Stop violence” and “Human rights for all”. We also have special shows for children, for youth, such as “Grafitti” (daily), “Kosovo- weekly accent”, Labour Rights (monthly), and authorial shows focused on science, culture, modern music and arts.

Radio programme for ethnic communities are broadcast on Sunday with main goal to provide for different minorities access to specific information and entertainment:

1/ Po Laco Drom, radio show for Roma;

2/ Daldan dala, radio show for Turkish community;

3/ Avaz for Bosnian community. 

The “Contact” radio is open to dialogues, and we have managed to establish fruitful cooperation with international organizations in Kosovo and different local ethnic communities.  During March 2001 we expect formal cooperation with USA KFOR, which means joint weekly radio show (will be translated in three languages).

During last year many young people joined our team even on voluntary basis. The number of listeners was increased in this period and the Contact Radio became more popular especially between youth. In spring 2001, OSCE Media Department plan to organize survey about electronic media rating in Kosovo. That will help us to tailor our programme to listeners and to improve it.

Till now very often we had messages from people who listen us and support our work, but for security reasons they done that anonymously. Representative of Albanian political parties considered our radio station as good opportunity for public statement.

Last year (December) we had some negotiation about cooperation with local Albanian radio station in Mitrovica – Globi and Radio Mitrovica. Also, according to our references, few radio stations (Peja, Prizren, Caglavica, even Drenica), both, in Albanian and Serbian languages asked our management team for help in establishing radio station and multiethnic radio programme.

The Contact radio is open for networking with similar independent media and NGOs in Region, that promotes dialogue, tolerance and sustainable multiethnic community. The radio is a member of ANEM, CONTACT network, and SEEMO – South East Europe Media Organisation. In December 2000 Contact radio Pristina became a member of ONEWORLD Radio Southeast Europe Internet Audio Exchange

In scope of the ANEM and CONTACT NETWORK we started joint radio shows and daily exchange of information and communication between its members with main goal to build an “objective information mechanism” for reconciliation.

During March 2001 Contact radio Pristina will participate (Brezovica, Kosovo) the initial networking meeting of radio stations in Kosovo witch broadcast in Serbian language. The meeting will be organized by Radio Contact Plus (Mitrovica) thanks to support of OSCE Media department from Pristina.

Concrete goals of the project for the year 2001 are:

• Promotion and support of democratic process in the Region, especially in Kosovo and SRY

• Daily information bridge Belgrade – Pristina – K. Mitrovica

• Regional cooperation and communication (Zagreb, Sarajevo, Ljubljana, Banja Luka, Vukovar….)

• Support of civil society, promotion of human rights, especially of minority ethnic communities

• Information support to displaced persons from Kosovo and refugees in Serbia and Montenegro

On Sundays and Saturdays, the radio planned to broadcast special radio shows (by) for: children, women initiatives, minority community, refugees and IDPs, and open communication in the region in collaboration with partners in Belgrade, Novi Sad (Vojvodina), Macedonia and Banja Luka (BiH).

We also plan special radioshows “Glossary for sustainable future” to promote new way of living according to environmental issues.

Possible positive effects of multiethnic Contact radio project could be initiating new similar projects, particularly in mixed communities, encouraging joint projects, dialog, and particularly independent, non-governmental, open media in Serbian community which was traditionally connected with state and government, as well in other ethnic communities. The best example for that is the project we initiated and realised during year 2000, the Contact Plus radio in Northern Mitrovica which is a most popular radio station in northern part of Kosovo and completely independent in operation and programming.

Also, during 2001 we expect initiation of new  non-governmental organizations trough promoting civic initiatives and policy culture of civil society.

• Problems and obstacles

Lack of security and funds could be main reasons for some changes in planned project activities. Under constant life threat (for Serbian journalist first of all) and without basic conditions for radio programme management (no telephone lines, no water, irregular electricity supply) we had to make some changes in our programme schedule. For example, the situation in Media House was getting worse because of decision of UNMIK to evacuate this building as soon as possible (the deadline was November 15th 2000). During the period nobody took responsibility for basic maintenance, electricity installation etc. UNMIK and OSCE promised to find most appropriate and safe enough solution for Contact Radio. But, till now there is no place in Pristina where we can rent a flat, accommodation in UNMIK hotel is limited for our staff because of bureaucratic and inappropriate procedure.

Lack of funds made our problems more serious, we had no possibilities to pay enough high salaries to our staff, and unfortunately in unfair competition international media (KFOR radio station) constantly had stolen our journalist paying them more.

• Basic information about the organisation

The Contact radio was founded by CIVIC HOUSE non-governmental organization from Pristina. The Contact radio has management and administration, programming and producing department as well as correspondents offices in Belgrade, Novi Sad, Mitrovica. In the year 2001 the radio will establish offices in Peja, Prizren, Caglavica (for Serbian enclaves). Responsible persons are executive director, managing director, duty chief, news director, and chief of production and technicians.

The Contact radio employees about 30-35 full and part time cooperators. They are from different ethnic communities, (15 of them are Albanians, 7 Serbs and Muslims, 10 Turks), and 60% are women.

In the year 2001 the Contact radio would intensify connections with radio stations in the South East Europe to provide an information bridge between Kosovo and other parts of region. Our young journalist – Albanians, Turkish and Serbs (Teuta Hyseni, Blerta Belegu, Erkin Ilijaz, Valentina Cukic, Irfan Berovic) are already included in peace building projects in SEE region, and some of them passed educational courses in Canada, USA, Denmark.

Some changes in the project for the year 2001could be expected depending on changes in political environmental considering increase of tensions in Presehevo valley and political violence in pre-elections period in Kosovo.

The Radio still encountered myriad problems in daily operation, but we will continue to play a very specific role in Kosovo’s media space, especially now when current post-war and still conflict situation have had a significant destabilizing influence on the region.  

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Phone +41-1-272 46 37,  Fax +41-1-272 46 82, email: info@MEDIENHILFE.ch