Fahrudin Radoncic
Encyclopedia
Fahrudin Radončić, is a country located in Southeastern Europe. It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea to the south-west and is bordered by Croatia to the west, Bosnia and Herzegovina to the northwest, Serbia to the northeast and Albania to the...
), is a Bosniak businessman and politician. Radončić's Dnevni Avaz is a widely circulated daily newspaper in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Career
Radončić was raised in the town of PlavPlav
Plav Plav Plav (Montenegrin, (Albanian: Plav) is a town in north-eastern Montenegro. It has a population of 3,615 (2003 census).Plav is the centre of the municipality (population of 13,805),-Geography:...
in Montenegro. In 1988 he was relieved from the position of executive secretary, because he characterized through print media that politics led by Slobodan Milošević
Slobodan Milošević
Slobodan Milošević was President of Serbia and Yugoslavia. He served as the President of Socialist Republic of Serbia and Republic of Serbia from 1989 until 1997 in three terms and as President of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia from 1997 to 2000...
were Nazi and criminal. He was also issued a summons and prosecuted. In 1989 he started to work as a journalist and an analyst for well-known Zagreb
Zagreb
Zagreb is the capital and the largest city of the Republic of Croatia. It is in the northwest of the country, along the Sava river, at the southern slopes of the Medvednica mountain. Zagreb lies at an elevation of approximately above sea level. According to the last official census, Zagreb's city...
weekly magazine "Danas", a magazine held as the "Sorbonne" of journalism in today's former Yugoslav republics. Circulation of this magazine was at nearly 300,000 and it focused on sovereignty of ex-Yugoslav republics, as well as focusing against politics of Slobodan Milošević and Franjo Tuđman.
In 1990, mr. Radončić wrote "10,000 days of slavery". A book focusing on the subject of a sovereign Kosovo
Kosovo
Kosovo is a region in southeastern Europe. Part of the Ottoman Empire for more than five centuries, later the Autonomous Province of Kosovo and Metohija within Serbia...
. Publishing of this book has caused terrible anger of official Belgrade and Serbian and Montenegrin media. He was a friend of the late Albanian leader Ibrahim Rugova
Ibrahim Rugova
Ibrahim Rugova was an Albanian politician who was the first President of Kosovo and of its leading political party, the Democratic League of Kosovo ....
, and enjoys a friendship with other Kosovo intellectuals and politicians. In the same year he also wrote a series of texts arguing the statehood and a right to a sovereign Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia and Herzegovina , sometimes called Bosnia-Herzegovina or simply Bosnia, is a country in Southern Europe, on the Balkan Peninsula. Bordered by Croatia to the north, west and south, Serbia to the east, and Montenegro to the southeast, Bosnia and Herzegovina is almost landlocked, except for the...
. In the same series of texts he also argued for the same in case of Montenegro
Montenegro
Montenegro Montenegrin: Crna Gora Црна Гора , meaning "Black Mountain") is a country located in Southeastern Europe. It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea to the south-west and is bordered by Croatia to the west, Bosnia and Herzegovina to the northwest, Serbia to the northeast and Albania to the...
.
Dnevni Avaz and other media ventures
In 1991 he established a publishing company named "Avaz".From 1992 through 1993, while a member of the Army of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina
Army of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina
The Army of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina was the military force of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina established by the government of Bosnia and Herzegovina in 1992 following the outbreak of the Bosnian War...
, he felt the need for a printed journal in form of a cultural reaction and resistance to the aggression on Bosnia and Herzegovina. In October 1993, while stationed and living in besieged Sarajevo
Sarajevo
Sarajevo |Bosnia]], surrounded by the Dinaric Alps and situated along the Miljacka River in the heart of Southeastern Europe and the Balkans....
, he launched a weekly publication of a journal named Bošnjački avaz (English: Bosniak Voice). For launching newspapers he received 1 million deutsche marks from SDA political party. The first texts published in this magazine, dated 15 November 1993, he strongly opposed to the division of B&H and creating of a "Bosniak republic".
In 1995, through his publishing inc. company he launched the Dnevni avaz
Avaz
Dnevni Avaz is a daily newspaper in Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is published in Sarajevo.-Background:Dnevni avaz evolved from a monthly publication Bošnjački Avaz which was first published in September 1993. In 1994 it became known simply as Avaz and was published weekly in Bosnia and Herzegovina...
(Eng: Daily Voice). Its daily circulation is 50,000 and its website records in excess of 100,000 hits on a daily basis.
In 1995, Radončić also launched several other papers, including: Political magazine "Global", magazine "Azra", weekly papers "Express", "Sport Avaz" and ten other print media publications. He is also the owner of TV "Alfa".
Construction business
In 2000, Radončić built one of the first office space buildings in post-war Sarajevo. This building is currently the headquarters building of the Hypo Alpe Adria Bank.In 2004, Radončić built the first post-war modern architectural building, a 5-star hotel called "Radon Plaza Hotel". The hotel boasts with the first rotating restaurant
Revolving restaurant
A revolving restaurant is a usually tower restaurant eating space designed to rest atop a broad circular revolving platform that operates as a large turntable. The building remains stationary and the diners are carried on the revolving floor. The revolving rate varies between one and three times...
in the region. In 2007, Radončić received an award from the municipal leadership of Canton of Sarajevo for the architectural significance and achievement in building the "Radon Plaza Hotel".
In 2009, Radončić built a 40-floor Avaz Twist Tower
Avaz Twist Tower
The Avaz Twist Tower is a skyscraper in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and at 172 m is the tallest skyscraper in Balkans. It is the new headquarter for Avaz, a Bosnia and Herzegovina newspaper company. The tower is located in the Marijin Dvor district, Sarajevo's business district. Construction...
office space building. It's architectural attributes include it's 175m height and it's modern architectural structure that has already become a popular tourist attraction
Tourist attraction
A tourist attraction is a place of interest where tourists visit, typically for its inherent or exhibited cultural value, historical significance, natural or built beauty, or amusement opportunities....
in Sarajevo. Construction of such grandiose buildings has put mr. Radončić among the most successful construction businessmen in post-war
Bosnian War
The Bosnian War or the War in Bosnia and Herzegovina was an international armed conflict that took place in Bosnia and Herzegovina between April 1992 and December 1995. The war involved several sides...
BH history.
Personal conviction and practice
Radončić always strongly opposed hegemonistHegemony
Hegemony is an indirect form of imperial dominance in which the hegemon rules sub-ordinate states by the implied means of power rather than direct military force. In Ancient Greece , hegemony denoted the politico–military dominance of a city-state over other city-states...
politics of Belgrade and Zagreb in both his publications and public appearances. He was always strongly committed to full BH sovereignty and equal rights
Social equality
Social equality is a social state of affairs in which all people within a specific society or isolated group have the same status in a certain respect. At the very least, social equality includes equal rights under the law, such as security, voting rights, freedom of speech and assembly, and the...
of three nations and all other citizens of this country. Also, he is the creator of the biggest media system in B&H after the war, and genuine protector and promoter of Bosnian national interests as a whole. In example, throughout his business practice he has always integrated all nationalities to form his media group. In fact, this principle lives close to his family.
Radončić is also known as a man who put himself at the very head of defense on freedom of press in BiH, therefore he and his paper "Avaz", operating independently and market-oriented, were subject to a number of various pressures they stood out successfully.
He is deemed as a pragmatic and a tolerant person who is committed to return economic policy importance back into the focus of all political subjects. He is known for his pro-western
Western world
The Western world, also known as the West and the Occident , is a term referring to the countries of Western Europe , the countries of the Americas, as well all countries of Northern and Central Europe, Australia and New Zealand...
orientation and utter conviction that BH should take part in Euro-Atlantic integration.
In addition, Radončić is strongly committed to establishing better relations and cooperation across all areas in the region.
Experience prior to official candidacy in politics
As a media magnate and a person with important influence on Bosnian politics, Radončić tangibly participated in numerous important summits dealing with vital interests of Bosnia and Herzegovina. This includes his participation as a political consultantPolitical consulting
Political consulting, beyond the self-evident definition of consulting in political matters, refers to a specific management consulting industry which has grown up around advising and assisting political campaigns. This article deals primarily with the development and nature of political consulting...
to domestic and foreign politicians during the signing of Dayton Peace Accords
Dayton Agreement
The General Framework Agreement for Peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina, also known as the Dayton Agreement, Dayton Accords, Paris Protocol or Dayton-Paris Agreement, is the peace agreement reached at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base near Dayton, Ohio in November 1995, and formally signed in Paris on...
, when he was a member of group of intellectuals providing crucial advise and consultation to the late Alija Izetbegović
Alija Izetbegovic
Alija Izetbegović was a Bosniak activist, lawyer, author, philosopher and politician, who, in 1990, became the first president of Bosnia and Herzegovina. He served in this role until 1996, when he became a member of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina, serving until 2000...
, first president of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Furthermore, owning up to the position of a media magnate, Radončić often provided support to international representatives in promoting laws aimed at integrating various aspects of BH policies and institutions, i.e.: the law on unification of armed forces
Armed forces
The armed forces of a country are its government-sponsored defense, fighting forces, and organizations. They exist to further the foreign and domestic policies of their governing body, and to defend that body and the nation it represents from external aggressors. In some countries paramilitary...
of BiH; the law on adoption of a single currency, etc.
By entering the political stage, officially announced on September 24, 2009 Radončić announced the creation of his own political party, the Union for a Better Future of BiH
Union for a Better Future of BiH
Union for a Better Future of BiH is a political party in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The party was founded in September 2009 by Fahrudin Radončić, the founder and owner of Dnevni Avaz, the largest daily newspaper in Bosnia and Herzegovina.The party has yet to establish a political program and...
. Radončić wants BiH to start a comprehensive battle against poverty through strong economic development and he believes that if current corruption, conflicts and destruction is continued, there is a real danger that poverty, lack of vision for a better future and absence of expected prosperity could cause tension between three nationalities resulting in internal conflict and even religious radicalism.
Legal problems and professional rivalries
In 2008, Radončić entered into a business partnership with Miroslav MiškovićMiroslav Miškovic
Miroslav Mišković is a Serbian businessman, the owner of Delta Holding...
, a controversial businessman from Serbia
Serbia
Serbia , officially the Republic of Serbia , is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeast Europe, covering the southern part of the Carpathian basin and the central part of the Balkans...
with close ties to the regime of Slobodan Milošević
Slobodan Milošević
Slobodan Milošević was President of Serbia and Yugoslavia. He served as the President of Socialist Republic of Serbia and Republic of Serbia from 1989 until 1997 in three terms and as President of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia from 1997 to 2000...
. This promoted widespread criticism and condemnation in Bosnia due to Mišković's role in the aggression against Bosnia and Herzegovina.
In recent years Radončić has led a media campaign against the Selimović family, who are the owners of the Sarajevska Pivara
Sarajevska Pivara
Sarajevska Pivara is a Bosnian brewing company based in Sarajevo.-History:The Sarajevska Pivara opened in 1864 as the first local industry and shortly became one of leading producers in Bosnia, with considerable amounts exported to Montenegro, Dalmatia and Albania...
as well as other business ventures. Dnevni Avaz frequently publishes articles denouncing the Selimović family.