The Management Board of the BH Journalists Association sent a public protest to the Croatian representative in the EU, Zeljana Zovko, for her disrespectful attitude towards Minela Jasar-Opardina, N1's journalists who interviewed her, broadcast on January 28, it was announced today.

“Speaking about the current political situation in the region and the role of the EU in treating the migrant crisis in BiH, MEP Zeljana Zovko behaved extremely cynically and insultingly towards Minela Jasar-Opardija during the entire interview and answered legitimate questions with counter-questions and belittling the journalist's work,” the Association said.

‘I think this question goes beyond the question of a journalist and the conversation we should have,’ ‘You are still quite young, so you have not had time to study some things in history,’ ‘I think the question is absolutely inappropriate, it is not mine to interpret anything,’ ‘Questions like this absolutely do not contribute to reconciliation,’ ‘Our conversation does not contribute to a productive end and I don't see how we will end this conversation,’ ‘If you have any other questions, I will be happy to answer them,’ – these are just some of the sentences and remarks of MEP Zovko during her interview with N1's Jasar-Opardija.

The Association's Management Board finds it unacceptable that a person, who performs such an important function as the Member of the European Parliament, treats journalists and the media in such a degrading way. As a public official, Željana Zovko has a responsibility to the citizens and is obliged to answer all journalists’ questions, whether pleasant or unpleasant and not to make a selection, edit a TV show and answer only the questions that are to her liking.

Therefore, the BH Journalists Association calls on Zovko to send a public apology to journalist Minela Jasar-Opardija and N1 television, with the expectation that such appearances will not be repeated. In the meantime, BH Journalists will inform all the relevant domestic and international organizations about this case, which includes sending a protest letter to the European Parliament Group for BiH and Special Rapporteur Paul Rangel,” the statement concluded.