JOURNALISTS ASSOCIATION HEAD, MINISTER DISCUSS SLANDER PROVISIONS

ZAGREB, July 22 (Hina) - The president of the Croatian Journalists' Association (HND), Dragutin Lucic, on Tuesday notified Justice Minister Ingrid Anticevic Marinovic of objections the association raised against the recently adopted amendments to the penal code, which refer to liability for slander. #L# "The minister has said that this week she will brief the government on our criticism and position that the current provision that makes it easier for competent authorities to prosecute reporters for slander should be changed," Lucic told Hina after the meeting in the Justice Ministry. He added that Minister Anticevic Marinovic left the possibility open for the change to the contentious provision, but said it was up to the government to decide on the matter. "We agreed that slander should continue to be treated as a criminal offence but should not be punished with a jail sentence," Lucic said adding that the justice minister said that court practice had shown that fines were regularly meted out for this kind of offence. The HND leader added that agreement was reached that rulings against reporters sued for slander would be published in the press. "Because of the government's principled stand, we shall continue talks and inform the public of the outcome," Lucic said. (hina) ms