SARAJEVO, Feb 25 (Hina) - The Office of the High Representative for Bosnia-Herzegovina, Carlos Westendorp, expressed dissatisfaction about what had so far been done to reorganise the Bosnia-Herzegovina Radio and Television,
particularly with the lack of readiness of ruling political structures to ensure resources necessary for financing the public broadcasting system, Westendorp's spokesman in Sarajevo, James Ferguson, said in Sarajevo Thursday. He recalled the Madrid convention of the Peace Implementation Council had set a clear task of the establishment of a public radio and television which would serve the interests of all three constitutive peoples in Bosnia-Herzegovina, but, he said, this goal had not been fulfilled. The declaration adopted in Madrid stressed authorities bore responsibility for ensuring the finances to set off such a system. In the light of this fact, we are concerned about the acts by
SARAJEVO, Feb 25 (Hina) - The Office of the High Representative for
Bosnia-Herzegovina, Carlos Westendorp, expressed dissatisfaction
about what had so far been done to reorganise the Bosnia-
Herzegovina Radio and Television, particularly with the lack of
readiness of ruling political structures to ensure resources
necessary for financing the public broadcasting system,
Westendorp's spokesman in Sarajevo, James Ferguson, said in
Sarajevo Thursday.
He recalled the Madrid convention of the Peace Implementation
Council had set a clear task of the establishment of a public radio
and television which would serve the interests of all three
constitutive peoples in Bosnia-Herzegovina, but, he said, this
goal had not been fulfilled.
The declaration adopted in Madrid stressed authorities bore
responsibility for ensuring the finances to set off such a system.
In the light of this fact, we are concerned about the acts by which
resources from public funds are forwarded to local radio and
television stations, on municipal and canton levels, Ferguson
said.
It is clear that such media are under direct political influence and
control which jeopardises the freedom of public expression, he
stressed.
Ferguson announced the international community would insist the
public media should in the future be financed in a completely
transparent manner, and that they should promote pluralism via
their shows, not narrow nationalist or party interests.
(hina) lml jn