Yle News wrote:Slovenian Government Threatens YLE with Legal Action
The office of Prime Minister Januz Jansa says the premier plans to launch a government suit against the Finnish Broadcasting Company as well as against the journalist of the YLE programme MOT.
The MOT programme that aired on Monday claimed that Finnish defence material manufacturer Patria paid bribes to PM Jansa in return for contracts.
Jansa's office has yet to say when and where the charges will be filed. YLE has yet to be contacted on the matter.
YLE has already responded to the Prime Minster's apology demand. YLE has reiterated that MOT's report was based on information from numerous reliable sources. Channel Director Riitta Pihlajamäki meanwhile says the issue is closed as far as YLE is concerned.
Yle News wrote:YLE Claims Stir Political Storm In Slovenia
A report by the YLE investigative current affairs television programme MOT has caused a political storm in Slovenia. According to the programme aired on Monday, the Finnish defence material manufacturer Patria paid bribes to the Slovenian Prime Minister in exchange for orders.
According to MOT, Patria paid a total of EUR 21 million in bribes indirectly to Slovenian Defence Ministry officials and to the Prime Minister, in return for hundreds of millions in orders for the Slovenian military.
In Slovenia, where preparations are under way for parliamentary elections, the claims made by the YLE programme have been denied by Prime Minister Janez Jansa. He called the bribery claims a lie and an attempt to blacken his reputation before the elections.
Also in Slovenia, counter-claims have been that the YLE programme was intended to help the political opposition in the upcoming vote.
Prime Minister Jansa also demanded an apology from YLE on Tuesday and pointed out that a decision on the purchases in question was made during the time of the previous government in Slovenia.
The producer of the MOT programme, Matti Virtanen, says that he stands behind the report. YLE has also officially responded to the request saying the report was based on several reliable sources.
"We have no reason to change anything. We trust our sources which were several different ones who all confirmed the basic message of the programme. In order to protect these sources, we will not engage in any speculation of who they were," stated Virtanen.
The State of Finland owns 73% of Patria. Finland's National Bureau of Investigation is carrying out an investigation into Patria's dealings with Slovenia.
The last article also contains link to the English transcript of the report by MOT.
Confiteor Deo omnipotenti; beatae Mariae semper Virgini; beato Michaeli Archangelo; sanctis Apostolis, omnibus sanctis... Tibit Pater, quia peccavi nimis, cogitatione, verbo et opere, mea culpa, mea culpa, mea maxima culpa! Kyrie Eleison!
The Imperial Senate (defunct) * Knights Astrum Clades * The Mess
