HRT COUNCIL CHAIRMAN RESIGNS AND CALLS FOR GALIC'S DISMISSAL

ZAGREB, Oct 16 (Hina) - The chairman of the Croatian Radio and Television (HRT) Council, Ante Covic, on Tuesday tendered an irrevocable resignation and initiated the dismissal of HRT director Mirko Galic, accusing him of intentional obstruction of the Council's work and transformation of the state-run company into a public medium. At Tuesday's news conference, Covic said he had tendered his resignation as a personal contribution to enable the HRT Council's work as an important condition for transforming the HRT into a public company. The second condition, he asserted, was the dismissal of Galic as director. "Galic is ruling the HRT based on an agreement with various political and other factors to remain in office and keep a status quo at least by the end of the year so he could personally elect the editorial structure of the company," said Covic. Covic sent the request for Galic's dismissal to the Steering Board and the HRT Council, the parliament and government, on account of Galic's irresponsible performance of his duties due to which the HRT is having difficulties in its work. Covic stressed that responsibility for the "epidemic of bribery and corruption" at the HRT should be established. "Secondary culprits for obstructing the work of the radio and television" are a member of the HRT Council, Vlaho Bogisic, and the chairman of the parliament's Committee for the Constitution, Rule- book and Political System, Mato Arlovic, as well as the former chairwoman of the Legislative Committee, Ingrid Anticevic Marinovic. Covic was elected HRT Council president on July 16 with a majority of votes by newly-appointed Council members at a constituent session. He was suggested as president by the Dean Corps. (hina) lml sb