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...AND RADIO NOVI SAD RETURNS TO WORK. The Slovakian, Ruthenian, and Ukrainian language services of Radio Novi Sad resumed work on 1 March. Striking staff went back to the microphone after Radio-Television Serbia management stepped up transmission power and established salary parity between the foreign-language broadcasters and other employees of the state media. ("ANEM Weekly Media Update," 24 February -- 2 March)

UKRAINE

FOREIGN ASSISTANCE ON GONGADZE CASE? Ukraine's current political crisis can be overcome if there is a prompt and satisfactory resolution to the case of murdered journalist Heorhiy Gongadze and the formation of a new and more broadly based coalition government, according to Serhiy Tyhipko, the chairman of the Labor Ukraine Party and a member of Ukraine's parliament. Tyhipko told an RFE/RL briefing on 13 March that "crucial mistakes" had been made in the Gongadze case, but he said that it could be resolved if outside investigators, including from the U.S. FBI, were to be brought in. He added that President Leonid Kuchma should serve out his term if the investigation proves that he had no involvement in the murder. (RFE/RL Press Release, 14 March)

U.S. THREATENS TRADE SANCTIONS OVER COPYRIGHT PIRACY. The U.S. on 13 March threatened to impose trade sanctions against Ukraine unless its government makes a greater effort to control what U.S. companies claim is the widespread piracy of music, computer programs, and other copyrighted material, AP reported. U.S. Trade Representative Robert Zoellick announced that his office has begun an investigation into Ukraine's practices, which could result in trade sanctions if the matter is not resolved over the next three months. The U.S. recording industry estimates that Ukraine has produced and exported 60-80 million pirated compact discs over the past two years, costing U.S. recording companies over $200 million annually in lost revenue. ("RFE/RL Newsline," 14 March)