Overblown

  • 2005-07-20
  • By Arturas Racas
I would like to react to your editorial "Sad week for Lithuania" related to the works and deeds of Respublika group's publisher, Vitas Tomkus. I would agree with almost everything written in the article, which relates to Tomkus' anti-Semitic articles and controversial decision of the Vilnius court. However, I would strongly argue against some of the statements related to Respublika's victory in the tender for the 39 percent stake in the news agency Elta.

First of all, it is not right to say that Tomkus paid 1.3 million euros for the Elta shares, as it is not at all clear whether Respublika will in fact buy the stake. Under Lithuanian laws the winner of the tender has to undergo a thorough investigation by state institutions to be allowed to purchase the shares. Secondly, and which I see as a major mistake in your story, Elta is not at all "Lithuania's leading news and photo agency." The leading news agency in Lithuania by number of clients and by the sales, if you wish, is Baltic News Service.

So, taking over Elta (even by "madman," as you put it) would not at all mean taking over monopolistic business in Lithuania, as competition in news agency market exists.

I understand that describing Elta as and leading news source and monopolist in Lithuania, put together with Tomkus' notorious record, gives more strength to your arguments about threats to Lithuania's media market, but I see it as an artificial argument, which professional media should avoid. Otherwise what is the difference between those criticizing Tomkus and him?
 

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