ROUND TABLE "CRIME AND MEDIA" HELD IN ZAGREB

ZAGREB, Sept 26 (Hina) - The right of the public to timely receive information and the protection of individuals' rights and interests of state bodies in investigative and criminal proceedings were the subject of a round-table conference, entitled "Crime and Media", which took place in Zagreb on Wednesday. The conference was organised by the Croatian Journalists' Association and the Interior Ministry. Reporters from most media companies, Interior Minister Sime Lucin, police director Ranko Ostojic, State Prosecutor Radovan Ortynski and associates, representatives of the Supreme Court, Croatian Bar Association and the Zagreb County Court took part in the round- table. Reporters criticised the officials of state institutions for being insensitive to the interests of the media, as well as over the fact the media were sometimes unable to obtain information. Reporters also criticised them for covering up the identity of public figures under police suspicion and the covering up of white-collar crimes. Stressing the police had no intention of covering up information, Minister Lucin said the Croatian police were one of the most open in Europe, and were constantly trying to improve relations with the media. Journalists mostly complained about the State Prosecution being "close-mouthed", to which Ortynski said he would hire a spokesperson. The State Prosecution, he added, would even then give out "information in dosages" so investigations would not be compromised. Judicial representatives said a court investigation, which followed police charges, was secret, and the public should not be informed about its results until an indictment was issued and the main hearing initiated. (hina) lml sb