SOCIAL DEMOCRATIC PARTY COMMENTS ON LATEST ISSUE OF 'GLAS KONCILA'

ZAGREB, May 10 (Hina) - "We firmly deny all insinuations aiming at creating a conclusion that the Social Democratic Party (SDP) wants to politically influence the 'Slobodna Dalmacija' editorial policy", SDP deputy president Zeljka Antunovic said Thursday commenting on an article published in latest issue of the Croatian Bishops' Conference's weekly "Glas Koncila". The latest "Glas Koncila" issues said that the change of the 'Slobodna Dalmacija' leadership was ordered by the political party whose member is the Prime Minister. The SDP opposes all forms of political pressure on freedom of the media and there are no grounds for connecting the party with quasi attacks on the freedom of speech and public opinion in media, read a statement forwarded to Hina and signed by Antunovic. The statement also read the SDP had assumed an obligation for the financial consolidation of companies such as 'Tisak', 'Vjesnik' and 'Slobodna Dalmacija', ruined during the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) rule. The SDP also denied "Glas Koncila" claims that Croatia has been experiencing processes in which there is not much space for permanent values, ethics or Croatian national interests. The SDP will be consistent and responsible in advocating the continuation of the financial reconstruction and consolidation of 'Slobodna Dalmacija', read the statement signed by the SDP deputy president. (hina) it sb