Earlier on Thursday, the Croatian parliament discussed a government proposal that Bozo Skoko, Dijana Katica, Drazen Jovic and Ivan Rusan be appointed new members of the Steering Council. The term of the present, five-member Council expired at the beginning of June.
Some of the opposition deputies opposed the government proposal, insisting that three of the proposed candidates did not meet the requirements set by law.
"Being the only public national news agency, Hina has a very important role in providing balanced news content and information to all the media in Croatia," the Mission's spokeswoman Antonella Cerasino said in the statement.
"It is of extreme importance that the members of the Steering Council are competent persons with the highest level of relevant professional qualifications, and are independent of any political pressure. Only then the agency will be able to guarantee objectivity and function according to the highest standards of journalism.
"These requirements are also in accordance with the current Law on Hina, which, in its 5th paragraph states that the agency should not be exposed to the influences of any kind which could jeopardize its objectivity, the credibility of its information and its accuracy," the statement said.