PRIME MINISTER, JOURNALISTS' LEADERS ON STATE RADIO/TV BILL

ZAGREB, Jan 17 (Hina) - Prime Minister Ivica Racan on Wednesday received representatives of the Croatian Journalists Association (HND) and Forum 21, who outlined their views in connection with a government-moved radio and television bill. According to a statement from the government's Media and Public Relations Service, the two sides reached a high degree of understanding and agreement on key issues following from a public television charter adopted by party leaders of the incumbent ruling coalition in November 1999. Said issues refer to making Croatian Radio and Television (HRT) a public institution, ensuring an integral and quality cultural programme on public radio within two or three radio networks, setting a subscription fee, dividing radio and television and transmitters and communications, and appointing members on HRT's council and management board. The prime minister and the representatives of HND and Forum 21, an association of independent electronic media journalists, also agreed on the urgency of passing a law which should make HRT a democratic institution with guaranteed editorial and financial independence. (hina) ha