ZAGREB, March 20 (Hina) - The new director of Croatian Radio-Television (HRT), Mirko Galic, on Monday officially took over duty from former HRT director Ivica Vrkic. Galic was appointed to his new position by parliament last week.
Vrkic today invited Galic to pursue with the task they began together, namely the transformation of the HRT into a public television. Galic said he would attempt to initiate and expedite the transformation of the HRT into a public service. A public television also calls for an appropriate spiritual and political environment, he added. Vrkic said the HRT was in dire financial straits, but the company was despite this in a stable situation. He wished Galic success in transforming the HRT into a public television, to the benefit of both the Television and the public, a task in which he and his associates had been unsuccessful for various reasons. Vrkic thanked reporters
ZAGREB, March 20 (Hina) - The new director of Croatian Radio-
Television (HRT), Mirko Galic, on Monday officially took over duty
from former HRT director Ivica Vrkic. Galic was appointed to his new
position by parliament last week.
Vrkic today invited Galic to pursue with the task they began
together, namely the transformation of the HRT into a public
television.
Galic said he would attempt to initiate and expedite the
transformation of the HRT into a public service. A public
television also calls for an appropriate spiritual and political
environment, he added.
Vrkic said the HRT was in dire financial straits, but the company
was despite this in a stable situation.
He wished Galic success in transforming the HRT into a public
television, to the benefit of both the Television and the public, a
task in which he and his associates had been unsuccessful for
various reasons.
Vrkic thanked reporters covering the HRT for their cooperation and
said "despite the fact you did not like me, I could not have done my
job without you".
Asserting he had become responsible for the HRT, Galic said he was
aware that he had taken on this duty at a sensitive time, and with a
sensitive, but determined mandate.
He recalled the experiences of European national televisions which
took several years to realise the transformation into public
televisions.
"This process in Croatia will not be short either, and it is not
sufficient to change one man and adopt only a new law on the HRT. It
is necessary to primarily change conduct, way of action, and make
the news programmes credible, balanced and pluralistic," Galic
said.
In the culture sphere, particularly documentaries, the HRT must pay
great attention to domestic works, as well as the affirmation of
national culture.
Galic concluded that the television as a public service must assert
itself as an informative and educational medium.
Stressing his job was complex, he told reporters he would be open to
them in his work.
(hina) ha lml