The first public hearing for the sale of BHRT real estate, which was supposed to be held today at the Municipal Court in Sarajevo, was postponed due to the non-appearance of potential buyers at the auction.
The judge of the Sarajevo Municipal Court stated that, after the Court has declared itself on the objection of the Office of the Attorney General of Bosnia and Herzegovina, it will decide on further steps, i.e. whether a second hearing will be scheduled.
The sale of BHRT’s property was ordered by the Municipal Court in Sarajevo, following a lawsuit filed by the EBU on behalf of the debt, which with interest amounts to slightly more than 16 million BAM. According to the assessment of the court expert, the value of BHRT’s property (land and buildings) is about 160 million BAM.
“The largest part of the property that is “going to the drum” was registered as state property, which was temporarily exempted from legal circulation by the decision of the High Representative. Despite this fact, the Municipal Court ordered the sale of the property through a public auction,” the BHRT Board of Directors announced yesterday.
They emphasized that with this act, not only state property is endangered, but it can also represent a prelude to the disappearance of BHRT as a public RTV service, which according to the law covers the whole of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
“The Board of Directors appeals to the judicial and state institutions to find a legal way to delay the auction and find a solution for BHRT’s debt to the EBU and thus prevent the destruction of both state and BHRT property,” the BHRT Board of Directors stated.
Due to unresolved financing, BHRT is not able to pay its obligations to the EBU from its revenues, according to the announcement.
The Minister of Communications and Transport of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Edin Forto, said yesterday that the Office of the Attorney General of Bosnia and Herzegovina will ask for a postponement of the scheduled sale of the real estate of Radiotelevision of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
“The fact is that the debt amounts to 16 million, and that the assessment of the property is higher than 150 million. It is senseless to sell so much property because of such a debt,” he pointed out.
Forto also said that it is state property and that the disposal of that property is questionable considering the ban on the disposal of state property imposed by the high representative.
“I can’t imagine that a serious investor will come and offer a serious amount, when he knows that there may be complaints, the reaction of the OHR and the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina,” added Forto.
Forto said that he will ask the Council of Ministers to adopt a law that will solve the issue of debt through the budget in the coming years so that they do not end up in such senseless situations.
“This debt is not only the debt of BHRT, but of all three broadcasters, and we must look at it as such, stressed Minister Forto.
