SARAJEVO: BIH COM DEPUTY CHAIRMAN AND MINISTER OF FINANCE AND TREASURY DRAGAN VRANKIĆ VISITED AGENCY ONASA
SARAJEVO, September 14 (ONASA) – Deputy Chairman of the BiH Council of Ministers (CoM) and Minister of Finance and Treasury Dragan Vrankić visited today the seat of the independent news Agency ONASA in hotel “Holiday Inn” Sarajevo.
On this occasion, General Manager of the Agency ONASA Elvira Begović, informed the BiH CoM Deputy Chairman D. Vrankić about the Agency ONASA work.
“The mission of the Agency is continuos contribution to the development of true, independent and professional informing in advanced, European-oriented, multi-ethnic and multicultural BiH,” E. Begović said during talks with the Minister Vrankić.
After touring the premises and talking with ONASA employees Minister Vrankić said the impressions about Agency ONASA are positive.
“My impressions are positive, but I’m not surprised because I expected something like this, especially knowing the long-term work of the Agency ONASA. I think, good is that you have very professional and well trained people. It is good that the young people work here, because they are perspective. The combination of youth and experience is just right and that has been previously observed. Your professionalism and independence is something that has become a kind of ‘torchbearer’ in BiH”, CoM Deputy Chairman and Minister of Finance and Treasury Dragan Vrankić said.
He said, in the current atmosphere in BiH, “which is a consequence of the transition, the political disorder and the great need for constitutional reform that will lead us toward a normal state, a professional journalistic independence is necessary, but in such a setting it has a lot of space to prove itself. ”
“I think it is very important that you have sized the opportunity and took over a new European attitude and I think that everyone else will follow you but little bit late,” Minister Vrankić said.
“I think an independent and professional journalism is perhaps a kind of ‘watershed’ in relation to political developments in BiH. If we manage to achieve this approach and if it overcomes all other sectarian approaches and lobbies that occurs, we will have a chance, and than it has to be relentlessly ie it has to be spoken openly and reported on the right things, ” BiH CoM Deputy Chairman and Minister of Finance and Treasury Dragan Vrankić said.
“I support you to continue working with young, capable and unbiassed people, and to continue the professional work in the production of real news, because I think it’s best for Bosnia and Herzegovina,” the Minister Vrankić said, adding his opinion is that correct information has no alternative, and that it is guidance for future plans and strategies.
Minister Vrankić, among other things, said that he would “be happy if we soon create a setting in BiH in which a ‘constitutional story’ would really become necessary, instead wasting energy on petty politics.”
“If we manage to get rid of the burden of politics and relationships that we now have, within five years, I guarantee, BiH would be a country where conditions would not be set, but BiH will be a partner in the processes and could say ‘Gentlemen, we have our own attitude”, Minister Vrankić said. (End)