CULTURE MINISTER ANNOUNCES IMPLEMENTATION OF NEW RADIO-TV LAW

ZAGREB, Feb 14 (Hina) - Culture Minister Antun Vujic said on Friday the Croatian Radio and Television's (HRT) Programme Council should be formed in two months' time. #L# "By electing the Programme Council in about 60 days, the national television and radio should have the standards envisaged by the new HRT Law," he told a news conference. He said parliament's committee on informatisation and the media should invite institutions and civil associations in March to nominate candidates for the Programme Council within 30 days. The body's members will be appointed by parliament. Vujic said the government, with the new HRT Law and by forwarding bills on the electronic media and the media into parliamentary procedure by the end of this month, was meeting its commitments in connection with the media reform. The minister said the new law harmonised HRT's position with European standards for public radio and television, the European convention on transborder television -- which Croatia ratified -- and with obligations taken under the Stabilisation and Association Agreement with the European Union. Vujic is confident the new law will ensure "the full programme autonomy of the HRT and the stability, independence, proportionality and transparency of its financing". The most important point, according to the minister, are the expanded authorities of the Programme Council, which will elect the management and editors, independently adopt the statute, and protect the interests of the public. Also important is the journalists' right to say what they think of candidates for editors, said Vujic. Although their opinion is to be used only for consultations, it is important because in the past choosing editors who are not endorsed by journalists proved to be a bad practice, he said. "I expect that all at the HRT will act and cooperate responsibly to make the brief transitional phase easier." (hina) ha sb