US EMBASSY IN SARAJEVO CRITICISES IZETBEGOVIC

SARAJEVO, June 2 (Hina) - The US Embassy in Sarajevo on Wednesday stated the Bosnia-Herzegovina Presidency member Alija Izetbegovic might not understand the danger of widespread corruption threatening his country or the role of the free media in a democratic state. The Embassy was reacting to Izetbegovic's statements on corruption and media freedom, made at a press conference of the Party of Democratic Action (SDA), during a visit to Bihac (western BH) last week. According to the Sarajevo-based daily "Dnevni avaz", Izetbegovic said that "discussions about corruption are somewhat exaggerated" and added he did not know "any minister who has built a house with a swimming pool, or bought a yacht or an expensive car". Such discussions about corruption are simply aimed at undermining the position of the current authority, a campaign including the media which "use lies", he said. Describing Izetbegovic's statements as a serious lack of awareness of the damage corruption inflicts on the society, the Embassy expressed hope Izetbegovic did not believe corruption was demonstrated only through houses with swimming pools. According to the Embassy, corruption meant granting contracts to companies linked with major political parties, direct or indirect support of state structures for major parties as well as government officials sitting on the committees of private companies. The Embassy further stated problems like these also occurred in America but the US authorities were at least taking measures to prevent the abuse of state authority for private gain. Free media are indispensable and calling them disseminators of lies can hardly help Bosnia-Herzegovina draw closer to Europe, the Embassy noted. (hina) rml