Mekgafi: Intimidation of journalists is unacceptable

Yesterday's posters with the image of "Dnevni avaz" journalist Semira Degirmendžić, which were plastered around Sarajevo, mean only one thing to the EU Delegation in Bosnia and Herzegovina: that it is intimidation of journalists. Spokesperson for the Delegation of the European Union and the EU Special Representative in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Andy McGuffie, stated:

- We condemn all attempts to intimidate journalists or media houses and support calls for such actions to be investigated by the competent authorities. It is unacceptable for journalists to be the target of such campaigns. We call on all forces in society and citizens to support the utmost respect for the journalistic profession. This is not the first such incident in BiH this year, and in that regard, the country should take care of its international reputation - McGuffie said.

The statement received from the EU Delegation further states:

- At the same time, we emphasize the need for journalists and media houses to adhere to the highest degree of professional ethics and to ensure that they operate in accordance with the law. Bosnia and Herzegovina needs responsible media. If there are no free media, citizens are deprived of balanced, factually accurate, and reliable information. Free media build democracy and effective institutions. For this reason, free media are not something the EU negotiates about. They are a prerequisite for freedom of expression and, as part of the Copenhagen political criteria, an integral part of the path towards EU membership. This is why the European Commission recently presented Guidelines for our support of media freedom and media integrity in the enlargement countries - it was concluded in the statement.