SARAJEVO, 24.04.2018. – OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Harlem Désir spent last week in an official visit to Bosnia and Herzegovina and stressed the need to strengthen media pluralism, respect for the independence and viability of the public radio and television service and the need to improve the security of journalists in the country.
During the three day official visit, representative Désir met with the Minister of Foreign Affairs Igor Crnatak, Minister for Human Rights and Refugees Semiha Borovac, chairman of the Joint Committee on Human Rights of the Parliamentary Assembly of BiH Borislav Bojić, chairman of the Joint Committee on Human Rights of the Parliamentary Assembly of BiH Sašom Dalipagić, as well as the representatives of media and journalists associations.
“I had very open and constructive debates with representatives of the authorities in Bosnia and Herzegovina. We talked about the crucial role of the press and independent media in democratic processes, as well as the responsibility of the authorities to foster media pluralism and to improve the safety of journalists”, said Désir, as states in the public announcement of OSCE.
At meetings with government representatives, Désir emphasized the need the need to guarantee an independent and sustainable public broadcasting system, which includes efficient implementation of relevant laws and establishment of the Public Broadcasting Corporation of BiH, with the aim to harmonize their activities.
Journalists safety was one of the elementary questions Harlem Désir talked about. “Any attack on a journalist is an attack on a society’s right to be informed”, he said , adding that this attacks have to be prevented, publicly commanded when they happen and detailed investigated.
The need for greater transparency of media ownership and public funding of media at all administrative levels was expressed, as well as the need to improve the general conditions of journalist work.
Representative Désir also met with the representatives of the Regulatory Agency for Communications, Press Council, BH Journalists Association, Media Center and few media, including the visit to the daily newspaper Oslobođenje. He also met the representatives on the international community in BiH.
