[HCDX]: LTU-BC-INFO, 19.01.2000

[RATEKONA <ratekona@xxxxx>]

LITHUANIAN RADIO STOPS ITS TWO PROGRAMS, SAYS
TEMPORARILY;  LRT'S MANAGEMENT CHANGES

On January 15, 2000, Program 2 and Program 3 of Lietuvos Radijas
(Lithuanian Radio) went off the air. Both of them were broadcast
on FM only. The action was caused by difficult financial situation
of country's public broadcaster, Lithuanian National Radio
and Television (LRT), of which Lietuvos Radijas is a part.
Announcements broadcast on Lietuvos Radijas prior to the closure
said the move was temporary and would last for one month.
A day before that, Acting Director General of LRT Mr. Algirdas
Trakimavicius resigned because, as he put it, the government
disagreed that the closure of two radio programs was absolutely
necessary to save money.

The problems arose when the Parliament cut LRT's 1999 budget,
but LRT went on as if nothing had happened, and even continued
to expand its services. Subsequently, LRT's debts to its contractors
rose to 13 million Litai (3.25 million US$) which is about one third of
LRT's total 1999 budget. At least in one instance a contractor sued LRT,
gaining freezing of some of LRT's bank accounts. Director General
of LRT resigned in September 1999, and Mr. Algirdas Trakimavicius,
his deputy and LRT's Director of Commerce, was appointed Acting
Director General.

Monday, January 17, saw more changes: Board of Governors of LRT
appointed new Acting Director General, Mr. Vaidotas Zukas, a popular
TV and radio journalist at LRT, while Director of Lietuvos Radijas Mrs.
Laima Grumadiene resigned from the office after serving there for
almost three years. And today, January 19, Mr. Zukas said in
an interview to Lietuvos Televizija (Lithuanian TV) that he would
propose Ms. Jurate Lauciute (a journalist) to the post of the
Director of Lietuvos Radijas. This will have to be approved by the
Board of Governors of LRT.

   END

SIGITAS ZILIONIS, DX Editor <dx@xxxxx>
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