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SARAJEVO, October 18 (FENA) – The International Academy of Sustainable Development (UZOD), in collaboration with the FBiH Chamber of Commerce and under media sponsorship of the Federal News Agency (FENA), held the second international conference on the topic "Building a Sustainable BiH" which took place yesterday and today in Sarajevo.
The conference aimed to strengthen the idea of sustainable development, which is the only guarantee for the future of all.
During the panel "Communications in Sustainable Development Processes," Elmir Huremović, the Director of FENA, stated that the Federal News Agency is always open to topics related to ecology and sustainable development in the context of social and state interests, rather than potential individual economic interests of investors whose ambitions do not align with this goal.
"Establishing even better relations with the relevant ministry is an important segment of our development strategy, and I believe we are on the right path to enhance this cooperation. This will, I believe, raise awareness about the importance of these topics, resulting in increased public interest. This could engage the media further, which in turn would grow the need for educated journalists, photographers, and videographers. We are trying to establish good cooperation with partner agencies from the region and beyond, enriching our knowledge and capacities through the exchange of experiences," said Huremović.
He also called for collaboration with the non-governmental sector for the joint development of projects and efforts to secure funding and additional resources.
Huremović believes that ecological topics are not sufficiently represented in the media landscape overall, and unfortunately, there is not enough interest in them when it comes to promotional and educational efforts. However, FENA is actively covering many of these topics according to the standards of agency journalism and has excellent cooperation with relevant institutions. Nonetheless, it is not in a position to tell its users what they should publish.
Director Huremović emphasized that positive examples and projects in this area are always welcome at FENA.
"We certainly need to start with ourselves and ask if we can do more, from changing everyday habits in households and workplaces. However, the state needs to take a more active role in prioritizing sustainable development and environmental protection, along with enacting appropriate laws to better regulate these areas. If I were to simplify, I would say that sustainable development means caring for our country in a way that allows us to live well today without harming future generations. In Bosnia and Herzegovina, this means we need to balance the economy, society, and the environment," said Huremović.
The panel on communications in sustainable development, moderated by Tomislav Lukić, featured participants including Huremović, Suada Numić from the FBiH Ministry of Environment and Tourism, Alma Dautbegović (N1 TV), and Bojan Šunjić (Manager.ba). This panel is a significant segment of the two-day event.
Other panel participants emphasized that in an era where environmental issues are often of interest mainly during disasters and other incidents, the media should insist on profiling personnel for environmental topics, highlighting them as a significant segment of human existence.
Suada Numić agreed with moderator Lukić that such a panel deserves to be at the forefront of the conference, as communications about the environment are simply essential. The panelists agreed on the need to work on sustainable economic development while also preserving the environment, with Alma Dautbegović (N1 TV) stating that the media outlet will never refuse environmental topics.
Participants in the two-day conference "Building a Sustainable BiH" came from Bosnia and Herzegovina and the countries of the region.
The aim is to enhance the quality of social relations, educate the public, and promote the idea of living in an environmentally friendly manner, all in the interest of taking crucial steps towards a sustainable future for Bosnia and Herzegovina.
This year, the conference is sponsored by the President of the Federation of BiH, Lidija Bradara, the FBiH Minister of Environment and Tourism, Nasiha Pozder, and the Vice President of the Republika Srpska, Davor Pranjić.
For the first time in Bosnia and Herzegovina, a special session was held on communications in environmental protection processes and the role of media in those processes.
"Clear expression, factual consideration, respect for interlocutors, and acknowledgment of facts are insufficient elements at all levels of communication in BiH society," the organizers stated, explaining the reasons for holding this type of session at the conference.
During the session, special attention was paid to the media as key actors in sustainable development processes.
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