Agim Zatriqi, RTK Director General 
Speech at the EBU headquarters in Geneva, 12 June 2003

Today, 12 June, marks NATO’s fourth year since it entered Kosova and Albanians returned to their homes. For Kosovars the year 1999 was also known as "year zero". The period that followed was dynamic, eventful and at times frustrating. Perhaps one day it will be seen as a decisive moment in the history of Kosovo. In other words, it was anything but boring. 

There are three main success stories in post-war Kosova:

• fair elections and the institutions that were subsequently set up;
• Kosova’s police service;
• Radio Television of Kosova (RTK).  

Kosova has a relatively long history of broadcasting, but RTK is the first genuine valuable institution that was created in post-war Kosova and that came at a very reasonable price. Starting from scratch in post-war conditions and the unreserved support of the international community in the establishment of basic broadcasting parameters has today made RTK the most reformed broadcaster in the region.

RTK has two radio and two TV channels. The radio stations have different but complimentary profiles and a multi-ethnic programme. Out of 92 radio stations in Kosovo both Radio Kosova and Radio Blue Sky have high audience and credibility ratings.

Digital satellite TV broadcasts  approximately 18–20 hours of programming in four languages: Albanian, Serb, Bosnian and Turkish. In September there will also be a weekly magazine in the Roma language. In-house production comprises 65–70% of total programming. The results of Gallup International surveys show that RTK is the leader in the media market with an audience share of 80–90% (first viewing choice) and has a credibility rating of 70–80%. 

Radio and TV satellite programmes have an audience of several million. They also have their own websites.

There are 325 full-time employees including support staff on one-year contracts working in radio and television. Reflecting the population of Kosova, RTK staff is relatively young particularly in programming. The reporters in the newsroom are, on average, 23–24-years-old. RTK has a significant number of women employed in key editorial and managerial positions.

RTK is the only broadcaster with a national licence that has programming in all of Kosova's spoken languages. Its crews and correspondents cover all the ethnic enclaves in the country. Our primary mission is to foster and encourage the democratization process, to promote dialogue and tolerance as the only acceptable option of solving social conflicts, including ethnic, and to discredit any form of violence that has caused so much pain and suffering not just in Kosova but elsewhere in the region.

Without the EBU's involvement in September 1999 when RTK was set up as an emergency operation, Kosova would not have today a successful public broadcaster.

RTK staff and the general public are very grateful for that. We are particularly encouraged and heartened that despite the transfer of power from international to local hands, the EBU has not stopped caring for RTK. On the contrary, it has intensified and increased its support. The EBU has set an important and valuable precedent in the development of a European public service broadcaster.

We are pleased with the EBU-RTK agreement signed in January, and I would like to take this opportunity to express my sincere thanks. The benefits of this can already be seen in our programming. Please rest assured that we will try as best we can and through hard work to live up to your expectations. 

The EBU played a key role in alerting the decision-making bodies and the general opinion on the developments surrounding the Independent Media Commission draft law in Kosova. The statement of the EBU Administrative Council meeting in Thessaloniki marked a positive turn of events at this juncture and I wish to express my deep feelings of gratitude once again. Allow me to convey my thankfulness and appreciation for its support shown by the successful visits of Mr Erichsen and Mr Rumphorst to Prishtina.

In the battle for its future and indeed the very existence of the independent and multi-ethnic public broadcaster of Kosova, you have been on our side and we have not felt lonely at a time when your support and encouragement was most needed.

I feel the need to express the high esteem of the Board and the Management for the exceptional contribution of Mr Boris Bergant, Vice-President of the EBU and RTK Board Member at this critical and decisive moment for the future of the public service broadcaster of Kosova.

RTK not only supports but urges that the transfer of power from the international administration to local government institutions is made and that the vacuum in media legislation is filled. We do not have any nostalgia for the post-war legislative void and provisional situation; we consider the lack of an adequate body to oversee the media as both dangerous and unacceptable. But at the same time it should not be filled with one-sided laws that discriminate against Kosova’s public broadcaster as is the case with the draft law in question, which is in collision with the needs of Kosovar society, the Kosovar reality and the best European practices.

Kosova is in Europe and aims to be integrated in the European Union. This can only happen by implementing the best and proven European models, particularly in the field of media legislation. 

The ‘war’ over RTK as a genuine multi-ethnic and independent medium is a struggle for a democratic Kosova, calm and prosperous, ethnically tolerant, with a sound structure and integrated in Europe. Supporting RTK today means supporting this image of Kosova. 

Although the past cannot and should not be forgotten, we are future-oriented: Kosova needs a good public broadcaster to successfully build a future for all its citizens. 

Recently we have seen a lot of you and vice versa, but today is the first time we meet here at EBU headquarters. Though we have one foot in the door, we are conscious that only with hard work and professional commitment, and with your continuous support will we be able to get both feet in the door of the big European family of broadcasters – when circumstances permit, hopefully not too far in the future.

One last word, though RTK is for – and at the service of – Kosova, by the same token it is your baby, and it will be four years old in September. As we all know, though children are not always easy and comforting they are still brought up with love and care by grown-ups and good people.    

Thank you for your invitation!