The Minister of Communications and Transport of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Edin Forto, met today with Jan Braathu, OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, and the main topics of discussion were the financial sustainability of the Public Broadcasting Service of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BHRT) and the need to regulate ownership of electronic media with the aim of achieving greater transparency.
Minister Forto emphasized that transparency in media ownership is the foundation of public trust and free information, and that it is essential that citizens have a clear insight into who owns and edits media content.
OSCE Representative Braathu emphasized that freedom of expression is a fundamental democratic right, but that it must also be accountable. He stated that professional and independent media are key to preserving the democratic order.
The interlocutors said that it is necessary to work on harmonizing domestic legislation with European standards in order to ensure a functional and independent public service, and to build solid foundations for a free and responsible media sector.
At the end of the meeting, it was jointly concluded that without media freedom, there is no free society.
