Helez: Schmidt must secure funds or remove the blockades that have paralyzed the functioning of the state for years, and now also BHRT

(Patria) - Following today's move by BHRT, which interrupted its regular programming and is only broadcasting news, and warnings that a black screen could soon become a reality, numerous Bosnian officials have spoken out.

Among them is the Minister of Defense of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Zukan Helez, who called on the High Representative, Christian Schmidt, to react urgently and save BHRT.

"It is a sad fact that the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina, due to the constitutional setup, which in almost every segment of the political system allows for blockades by those who actively work to dismantle the state, is unable to secure the necessary funds and prevent the collapse of the public service. According to current legal solutions, BHRT does not have control over the collection and distribution of the RTV fee, which is its basic, legally prescribed source of income. It is precisely in this systemic weakness that the space is used by those who consciously and continuously work to undermine the institutions of Bosnia and Herzegovina, in order to endanger its public service as well. For this reason, I call on the High Representative to, in accordance with his powers, make a decision by which funds would be allocated from the budget of Bosnia and Herzegovina for the urgent settlement of part of BHRT's obligations – either from the surplus revenue of the Communications Regulatory Agency, or directly from the state budget reserves," stated Helez.

He says that the fact that RTRs has not been paying its due share of revenue from the RTV fee for years is particularly worrying, and this amount today approximately corresponds to BHRT's total debt, which is around 100 million KM.

"Funds intended for the state public service have been withheld and redirected for years, while BHRT has been systematically brought to the brink of survival. It is sad that RTRs, which has been withholding funds from the state public service for years, simultaneously acts as a media instrument of policy in one entity – a policy that denies genocide, relativizes adjudicated facts of international courts, glorifies convicted war criminals, and continuously attacks the constitutional order of Bosnia and Herzegovina."

BHRT is not just a media house. BHRT is a symbol of Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is an institution that must continue to exist.

"It is the voice of the state and the public space in which every citizen of this country is heard. The public radio and television service did not cease its work even during the aggression against Bosnia and Herzegovina. In the most difficult moments of our history, when shells were falling on cities, and institutions were under attack, BHRT remained with the citizens – informing, witnessing, and preserving the truth. This is not a matter of daily politics. This is a matter of the survival of a state institution. This is a matter of responsibility towards the citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is time for the High Representative to act – to make a decision that will ensure the urgent financial stabilization of BHRT or to remove the blockades that have paralyzed the functioning of the state for years," stated Helez.