WAZ: Crisis nothing to do with exit

Germany's WAZ Media Group today rejected assertions that its decision to leave the Serbian market had been triggered by the economic crisis. “Allegations that the WAZ Media Group’s decision to pull out of Serbia had been triggered by economic difficulties in Germany are completely unfounded,” said a statement issued this Friday by the Essen-based company. WAZ: Crisis nothing to do with exit The group has ownership stake in Belgrade's Politika and Novi Sad's Dnevnik dailies, among others. “Claims that WAZ had decided to withdraw from others countries as well amount to intentional disinformation and falsification. On the contrary, just yesterday, on Thursday, June 17, WAZ CEO Bodo Hombach stressed that the company will reverse previous plans and not withdraw from Austria,” the statement continued. The company went on to say that “allegations that the WAZ Media Group was planning for all-out retreat from Southern Europe are an attempt to divert attention from what is a purely Serbian problem”. Its press service also quoted a statement from Klaus Mangold, “the influential chairman of the German Industry’s Committee on Eastern Europe”. In it, Mangold said: “I hope the announced withdrawal will be registered as an alarm signal and lead to an improvement of conditions for investment.” “With shares in several newspapers, WAZ has contributed considerably to the development of a modern media landscape in Serbia and to bringing the country closer to the EU. It was willing to expand its commitment. But resistance got out of control lately,” he was quoted as saying. According to the statement, Mangold “expressed hopes there might yet be a solution and a continuation of the WAZ involvement”. “The ball is in the Serbian side of the court. The German industry will follow closely how this important investor is being treated.” WAZ said in previous announcements this week that it would exit the Serbian market after facing “great difficulties and public slander”. Serbian officials, notably Culture and Information Minister Nebojsa Bradic, commented on the situation on Thursday by saying that the German media group was leaving for “purely economic reasons”.

WAZ: Crisis nothing to do with exit

The group has ownership stake in Belgrade's Politika and Novi Sad's Dnevnik dailies, among others.

“Claims that WAZ had decided to withdraw from others countries as well amount to intentional disinformation and falsification. On the contrary, just yesterday, on Thursday, June 17, WAZ CEO Bodo Hombach stressed that the company will reverse previous plans and not withdraw from Austria,” the statement continued.

The company went on to say that “allegations that the WAZ Media Group was planning for all-out retreat from Southern Europe are an attempt to divert attention from what is a purely Serbian problem”.

Its press service also quoted a statement from Klaus Mangold, “the influential chairman of the German Industry’s Committee on Eastern Europe”.

In it, Mangold said: “I hope the announced withdrawal will be registered as an alarm signal and lead to an improvement of conditions for investment.”

“With shares in several newspapers, WAZ has contributed considerably to the development of a modern media landscape in Serbia and to bringing the country closer to the EU. It was willing to expand its commitment. But resistance got out of control lately,” he was quoted as saying.

According to the statement, Mangold “expressed hopes there might yet be a solution and a continuation of the WAZ involvement”.

“The ball is in the Serbian side of the court. The German industry will follow closely how this important investor is being treated.”

WAZ said in previous announcements this week that it would exit the Serbian market after facing “great difficulties and public slander”.

Serbian officials, notably Culture and Information Minister Nebojša Bradić, commented on the situation on Thursday by saying that the German media group was leaving for “purely economic reasons”.