NEW MEDIA CODE FOR BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA ADOPTED

SARAJEVO, April 9 (Hina) - The Independent Media Commission (IMC) in Bosnia-Herzegovina has adopted a special code on media conduct during pre-election and election activities. According to a statement issued on Friday by the IMC headquarters, the code will be valid until a final election law is adopted by the country. The code will be binding for all media and it will have priority in relation to all other laws in Bosnia-Herzegovina. Electronic media will have to abide by a special, previously adopted code for broadcasting programmes, as well as respect the right to a response. The press will be obligated to see that the information published is correct, complete, fair, just and unbiased. The media are forbidden to distort or conceal information or use materials to instigate religious or ethnic hatred or violence. The IMC has in principle forbidden paid political announcements and ordered that the identity of their sponsors be published should they be made. According to the code, all political parties and candidates shall be equal in accessing the media, and this rule especially refers to the period of 45 days before elections take place. The code also reaffirmed a previously adopted regulation on media blackout 24 hours prior to the opening of polling stations to their closing. Any violation of these rules will be punished in line with powers exercised by the IMC or the Election Appeals Sub-Commission of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), the IMC said. (hina) jn rml