OSCE ASSESSES MEDIA FUNCTIONING MORE FREELY SINCE ELECTIONS

ZAGREB, May 2 (Hina) - The freedom of expression in Croatia has improved and obstacles to the freedom of the media have diminished, Mission chief of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) to Croatia, Bernard Poncet said Wednesday, ahead of World Press Freedom Day. "The atmosphere for the work of the free media has certainly improved in Croatia over the last 15 months; now there is a need to further improve the existing legal framework to ensure that this trend is not reversed," Poncet said in a written press release issued Wednesday. Croatia's key commitment remains the transforming of the state radio and television (HRT) into a true public medium, and amendments to the Law on Telecommunications to secure that both the HRT and private television stations are completely devoid of political control, Poncet recalled. Compared to the 1990's, cases of hate speech in Croatia have in the past year and a half significantly become less frequent, although they have not completely disappeared. The Mission is convinced that Croatian citizens are becoming decreasingly prepared to accept such forms of intolerance. "Freedom and responsibility are inseparable concepts in the work of the media. Provided the highest level of freedom is ensured, media can serve as the conscience of the nation and strengthen civil society and the rule of law." (hina) lml