Rudić: Konaković creates a lynching atmosphere towards certain journalists, again demonstrating arrogance in the attack on NAP and Hayat!

(Patria) - I am surprised by the statements of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of BiH, Elmedin Konaković, regarding the work of journalists from the Patria agency and Hayat TV, although this public official too often abuses public space for unargued attacks on the media and journalists, says Borka Rudić, Secretary General of BH Novinari, for NAP.

"Whenever Mr. Konaković is not doing well on the political scene, when his party and the ruling Troika have problems reaching agreements with other actors in power, he tries to delegate the blame to the media and journalists with accusations that they are working against him, the party, the institutions, the interests of the state...

This was also the case during his guest appearance on CD FACE TV. He again demonstrated inappropriate arrogance, a desire to stop any criticism of his actions and decisions, and showed a complete misunderstanding of media freedoms and journalists' rights in a democratic society.

The right to freedom of criticism of public officials and the way they perform their political and state duties is an integral part of the right to freedom of expression, and a key condition for political debate on matters of public interest. All of this is written so simply and clearly in the Council of Europe's Declaration on Freedom of Political Debate, a document that still teaches politicians to be more tolerant of public criticism through the media than ordinary citizens.

BiH is a member of the Council of Europe, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of this country should, before any other politician, accept the international standards of freedom of expression and freedom of criticism as his own values," emphasizes Rudić.

On the other hand, Rudić notes, the disturbing fact is that Mr. Konaković continuously attacks and targets any media that does not report as he would like.

"These attacks have been repeated for years, from the time he held public office as a member of SDA until now, when he is the president of NiP and the Minister of Foreign Affairs. In the Media Freedom Help Line (FMHL), we have registered a now double-digit number of cases in which Konaković appears as a violator of journalists' rights and media freedoms, as someone who creates a lynching atmosphere solely towards certain journalists.

Through FMHL, we will undertake all legal measures to protect journalists and their rights in this specific case, as well as in all other cases of violation of freedom of expression. And Mr. Konaković should finally ask himself if he can build a positive image at all – his own or that of BiH, it doesn't matter, if he violates journalists' human rights and media freedoms," adds Rudić.