Letter to Konakovic: NAP continues with critical writing, that is our obligation to the public

The Prime Minister of the Sarajevo Canton Elmedin Dino Konakovic has shown on a number of occasions that he likes only like-minded folks, and dislikes those who critically talk or write about his work.

When vanity and his big ego get better of him, the Prime Minister tends to deal with the latter in a rather abrupt manner, which does not become one prime minister. Yesterday, Konakovic had a problem with Patria.

During a debate with SBB delegate Zvonko Maric at the assembly floor, Konakovic attacked Patria's recent writing about registering a new illegitimate Canton Sarajevo Tourist Board, about which Maric had earlier made comments for Patria. Konakovic even requested an apology from Maric for his allegations. And then, Konakovic said:

- We all know what is NAP and who the owner of NAP is.

How come that one prime minister is more concerned with the ownership of a media agency than with public commentaries of the Assembly delegates and critical analysis by journalists based on hard evidence? Perhaps the Prime Minister prefers doing police jobs and investigating journalists and owners of media outlets, over his own job.

We would like to send a message to Prime Minister Konakovic that the journalists of News Agency Patria will continue to write the truth and do their job responsibly and conscientiously. Judging by his yesterday's public comments at the Assembly floor that he greatly misuses, that will neither suit him nor the actual Coalition. Writing the truth about people, politicians, events and the crime is our duty to the citizens.  

The poisoned arrows and pressure that the Prime Minister directed at the Patria journalists will not discourage us or stop in our work as the citizens of Sarajevo Canton and all our readers have a right to know what the members of the local government are doing as they (the citizens) are the ones paying them.

As Konakovic also mentioned the owner of Patria, we would like to respond to that as well:

- The owners of Patria are its journalists, which you can easily verify in the Company Registry. After you have done that, you might as well send your apology to the employees as such a pressure onto delegates and journalists has not been seen yet.

Is your message to the delegates that, if any of them gives an interview or a statement to Patria, he or she will face your disapproval and insulting because he may have not said what you wanted to hear or that something which may please your vanity?

Now that you know 'what NAP is', our editorial board would like to tell you that the delegates also know that, as a great number of their questions to the cantonal government they form on the basis of our writings. Does that bother you too?

If that is so, we are sorry, yet the pressure you are putting on us will not yield the results you wish for. We will continue to write and truthfully report on all topics and criticize you and your work whenever we have strong arguments to do so.

Mr. Konakovic, in your case, threats and suspicions are not something new; there have been quite a few of those in your past. For instance, when a media outlet calls you 'sultan', you respond by insulting and threatening.

As someone who aspires to be elected a 'politician of the year', perhaps you could deny with arguments our story and we will gladly publish your side of the story.

Obviously, the truth pains you, you have no answer and therefore you deceive the public by misusing your authority and the position.

When you took the floor at the Assembly meeting, you said that Patria's news take over only 'frivolous web portals'. Perhaps you could explain for the benefit of others, more specifically 500 of media in BiH and the region, among which there are also state media of the neighboring countries – how many of them take over Patria's news and what makes them 'frivolous'?!

Dear Prime Minister, you are frivolous in your work and your approach to the public and media; had you been up to the task and your position, you would have acted more responsibly towards delegates who you are accountable to, as well as to the public and media.

We dare to ask you, what will you say on the Assembly floor after you read one of our investigative articles about your activities, for example, the time you were with the Basketball Club 'Bosnia' or renting space in Zetra?