10/16/2003 OHR Sarajevo

Parliament Failing Europe’s test

The Office of the High Representative views the amendment to the Law on Radio-television of the Federation of BiH proposed by Mirnes Ajanovic and adopted by the FBiH Parliament yesterday – as a step away from Europe.

It is contrary to European standards for parliaments to dictate the editorial policy of the public broadcasters. This is yet another reason why the whole legal framework governing the public broadcast system has to be overhauled.

An independent and viable public broadcasting system is a fundamental European standard.  BiH will not be able to get in to Europe with the current arrangements.  The Parliament will have to choose between control of broadcasters and European integration.  They cannot have both.