AMBASSADOR OF SERBIA TO BIH GRUJICA SPASOVIC VISITS AGENCY ONASA
SARAJEVO, 5 August (ONASA) – General Manager of the Independent News Agency ONASA Elvira Begovic received today at the Agency seat in Sarajevo H.E. Ambassador of the Republic Serbia to BiH Grujica Spasovic whom she informed on the work of the Agency.
General Manager Begovic said the Agency ONASA mission is ongoing contribution to factual, independent and professional information providing in a progress and European oriented, multiethnic and multicultural BiH, with the aim to expand its network beyond BiH.
Ambassador Spasovic assessed Agency ONASA as one of best media products in BiH, and due to its quality work, had gained high credibility, not only among diplomats, but all other persons that wish a good and timely piece of information.
Speaking about the position and role of public media, Serbian Ambassador said they have to survive under heavy conditions, but some efforts should be taken to keep impartiality at work.
“Primarily it should be defined what the independent media means, with regard that nearly every medium is backed by some interests, as well as by specific people”, Ambassador Spasovic said.
Reminding of dying out of a Croatia satirical weekly “Feral Tribune”, Ambassador Spasovic said it used to be “one of the last genuinely independent media”.
According to Ambassador, there are some media in Belgrade that are trying to survive, among which is a daily “Danas”, whose long time editor-in-chief was Ambassador Spasovic.
Ambassador Spasovic emphasized that Serbia passed through a period in which big divisions were on stage among those who supported and others who were against a repressive undemocratic regime of Slobodan Miloševic.
“After the brake of regime we found ourselves even in a considerably heavier and potentially more dangerous situation. That was tremendous pressure over so-called tycoons, i.e., business people that wished to have fairy tales written about them to hide their crimes of theft and corruption. That happened to be the reason why those fewer independent media in Belgrade have found themselves in a very difficult situation indeed. It seems those pressures have become much harder nowadays all over ex Yugoslavia and more perilous than the political pressure has ever been”, Ambassador Spasovic said.
Over the visit, Ambassador of Serbia to BiH toured of Agency’s working premises and talked with staff. (the end)