HND URGES GOVT TO SET UP EFFECTIVE SYSTEM OF COMMUNICATION WITH REPORTERS

ZAGREB, Feb 4(Hina) - The Croatian Journalists' Association (HND) issued a statement on Wednesday urging "the government and its ministries to finally set up an effective system of communication with journalists and hence the public". #L# The statement, signed by HND Vice-President Zdenko Duka, was prompted by an increasing number of complaints by reporters saying that they could not promptly obtain clear information from ministries. Duka told Hina that the complaints the HND had received were not in writing. "They are verbal and there are many of them," he said. Duka said that the HND had not discussed this problem with government spokesman Ratko Macek, adding that the HND's job was to draw attention to problems in communication between reporters and government bodies. Duka said that more than a month and a half had passed since the government took office, but that nothing had been done to resolve this issue. "When the former government was in office, journalists also had to wait for responses to their written questions, which is intolerable, and now it is even harder to get information," the HND vice-president said. Duka cited cases of reporters who had been denied information from the Health Ministry or who could obtain information relating to the Ministry of Family, War Veterans' Affairs and Inter-Generation Solidarity only directly from Minister Jadranka Kosor. The HND said in the statement that "it may seem that the situation in which no one provides and is not responsible for true and prompt information suits the government." It added that it was intolerable that Prime Minister Ivo Sanader should be the government's sole spokesperson, noting that reporters have the right under the law to obtain the necessary information from relevant authorities in a timely fashion. (Hina) vm