TV debate on coal mine controversy

B92's investigative program Insajder (Insider) organized a debate on Monday on the alleged financial abuses at the Kolubara coal mines. The program's been investigating the mine's business practices in several episodes that aired over the past weeks. The mine operates under Serbia's largest state-owned company, EPS. TV debate on coal mine controversy Former Kolubara Director Slobodan Djeric and member of the opposition SNS party presidency Zorana Mihailovic took part in the show and said there really were abuses as Insajder reported. But Andreja Mladenovic of the opposition DSS persistently claimed this was about a media warrant against his party. Energy Minister Petar Skundric would not take a stance on whether there were abuses, and repeated that investigative organs should speak on the matter. Insajder previously reported that the company spent huge amounts of money by renting machinery and equipment from private companies. Mladenovic said that it was impossible for a machine to work 24 hours without stopping and accused B92 of conducting "a media campaign against DSS and honest people in that party". "Your television has turned into a police unit that conducts investigations, it has become the prosecution and the court, and you'll likely set up a prison in a basement of your building to sanction those you've talked about," said Mladenovic. He walked out of the studio near the end of yesterday's broadcast. Skundric also said that Radoslav Savatijevic Kene, mentioned by Insajder, was no longer sitting on the EPS board. He also claimed that he never heard of Savatijevic before. His name was mentioned in connection to companies that rented private machinery to Kolubara, and bought coal from the mine. Slobodan Djeric, who headed the mine from 2001 until 2004 said that the renting was introduced in the 1990s and described it as unnecessary waste of money, while he said the goings-on in Kolibara were criminal. Dragan Markovic Palma, leader of United Serbia (JS), a member of the coalition SPS-PUPS-JS that takes part in the government, refused to take part in last night's show. His son and daughter-in-law own companies that are also doing business with Kolubara. The ruling Democrats (DS) have in the meantime denied as untrue B92's statement that no official of that party wished to take part in the debate. The party said that it suggested another former Kolubara director, Nebojsa Ceran, should speak on its behalf, but that B92 refused. B92 had invited DS officials Dragan Djilas and Dusan Petrovic, who refused to take part in the show.

TV debate on coal mine controversy

Former Kolubara Director Slobodan Đerić and member of the opposition SNS party presidency Zorana Mihailović took part in the show and said there really were abuses as Insajder reported.

But Andreja Mladenović of the opposition DSS persistently claimed this was about a media warrant against his party.

Energy Minister Petar Škundrić would not take a stance on whether there were abuses, and repeated that investigative organs should speak on the matter.

Insajder previously reported that the company spent huge amounts of money by renting machinery and equipment from private companies.

Mladenović said that it was impossible for a machine to work 24 hours without stopping and accused B92 of conducting "a media campaign against DSS and honest people in that party".

"Your television has turned into a police unit that conducts investigations, it has become the prosecution and the court, and you'll likely set up a prison in a basement of your building to sanction those you've talked about," said Mladenović.

He walked out of the studio near the end of yesterday's broadcast.

Škundrić also said that Radoslav Savatijević Kene, mentioned by Insajder, was no longer sitting on the EPS board. He also claimed that he never heard of Savatijević before.

His name was mentioned in connection to companies that rented private machinery to Kolubara, and bought coal from the mine.

Slobodan Đerić, who headed the mine from 2001 until 2004 said that the renting was introduced in the 1990s and described it as unnecessary waste of money, while he said the goings-on in Kolibara were criminal.

Dragan Marković Palma, leader of United Serbia (JS), a member of the coalition SPS-PUPS-JS that takes part in the government, refused to take part in last night's show. His son and daughter-in-law own companies that are also doing business with Kolubara.

The ruling Democrats (DS) have in the meantime denied as untrue B92's statement that no official of that party wished to take part in the debate.

The party said that it suggested another former Kolubara director, Nebojša Ćeran, should speak on its behalf, but that B92 refused.

B92 had invited DS officials Dragan Đilas and Dušan Petrović, who refused to take part in the show.