ROUND TABLE HELD ON INDEPENDENCE OF MEDIA IN BOSNIA

MOSTAR, Sept 10 (Hina) - The Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) senior advisor for media, Regan McCarthy, said a period was upcoming when Bosnia-Herzegovina would dramatically change laws on media. At Friday's round-table conference held in Mostar, reporters of both entities in Bosnia-Herzegovina discussed the independence of media in Bosnia-Herzegovina. McCarthy stressed that the prevention of corruption in Bosnia-Herzegovina could not be differentiated from media reform. Spokesman for the Mostar regional office of the High Representative to Bosnia-Herzegovina Chris Riley said threats to reporters were being covered up in Mostar. According to Riley, state authorities should not have to power to punish reporters who criticise the actions of the authorities. He expressed concern for the covering up of financing of the media which was connected with officials who wish to be presented in a positive light in the media. Reporters mostly spoke about examples when they had been pressurised or threatened by political circles. (hina) lml