Not a word about BHRT at the Council of Ministers: Is there a solution despite SNSD's blockade?

By: A. Čorbo-Zećo

While the Council of Ministers will consider about thirty items concerning international agreements, reforms, finances, and appointments on March 5, none of them directly help BHRT. The Public Broadcasting Service of Bosnia and Herzegovina, facing the most severe financial crisis in decades, is being denied 22 million KM, funds essential for its survival.

Ministers Staša Košarac and Srđan Amidžić are preventing access to these funds, while the Chairwoman of the Council of Ministers, Borjana Krišto, shows complete disinterest. Appeals from international actors like Christian Schmidt ended as expected with a warning that the solution lies with domestic politicians.

The problem is simple and legally clearly defined: authorities must fulfill their obligation and implement the Law on the Public RTV System. However, as history shows, "compliance with the law" in BiH often becomes an instrument of politics, blockades, and blackmail.

Interestingly, in the meantime, some lower levels of government could borrow money, which further raises questions about coordination, responsibility, and political will. Because the Federation, and the cantons too, are increasingly boasting about budgets of a billion, but it seems no one has money, not even to lend.

While the public reacts less and less, BHRT sends clear warnings on its channels: this is not a technical malfunction, this is the danger of shutdown. And the relevant minister, Edin Forto, instead of leading an urgent solution, pays more attention to visiting clubs in Sarajevo.

The situation is alarming and would require urgent, continuous action from those responsible, but it seems political interests are overriding the interest of the public service. If the authorities do not recognize the seriousness of the moment, BHRT, a key pillar of public information and democracy, could run out of air.