PRESIDENT MESIC RECEIVES REPORTERS

ZAGREB, Jan 17 (Hina) - Croatia's President Stjepan Mesic on Wednesday received a delegation of the Croatian Journalists' Society (HND) and of electronic media reporters who are members of 'Forum 21'. The president and reporters discussed the situation in the Croatian media and a draft act on the Croatian Radio and Television (HRT). President Mesic agreed with the basic idea about urgent reforms of the media system on the principle of de-politicisation and transformation of the Croatian television into a public television, Mesic's advisor on internal affairs, Igor Dekanic, told reporters after the meeting. HND President Dragutin Lucic said that ahead of the new parliamentary reading of the bill on the public radio and television, the delegation notified Mesic of stands of journalists' associations on some open issues. This in particular refers to the method for the election of members into the HRT Council. The HND believes that the current draft act does not sufficiently guarantee the autonomy of those who can propose members for the council, or the sufficient de- politicisation of that body. Lucic added that they discussed the third radio channel, which would be cancelled, under the bill, but the public opposed such a step. It is necessary to make it possible for the Croatian television to transform itself, in accordance with European principles, into a public televisions which will not be able to serve interests of a ruling party or power-mongers, Lucic said. The HND Vice-President and Forum 21 head, Drago Pilsel, said they had delivered a letter to Mesic about their views on the position of the public media. The letter, which will be handed over to Sabor Speaker Zlatko Tomcic and Premier Ivica Racan, envisages that the HRT Council include tree eminent intellectuals, who are not party members and who will be proposed by the President of the Republic, Premier and Sabor Speaker, Pilsel said. (hina) sb ms