OSCE APPLAUDS TUTA'S EXTRADITION

ZAGREB, March 22 (Hina) - The Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) on Wednesday applauded the extradition of Mladen Naletilic Tuta to the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY), stressing this act showed the will of the Croatian Government to cooperate with the Tribunal. OSCE Mission spokesman in Croatia Peter Palmer told a news conference the Mission was convinced, based on talks between OSCE Mission chief for Croatia Bernard Poncet with Croatian Government representatives, that the Government was also ready to fulfil its international commitments in areas covered by the OSCE mandate. During the talks the Mission had offered its assistance, especially in the reform of the legislature relating to the return of refugees, rights of minorities and the freedom of the media. The OSCE also hailed the joint statement made by Croatian Foreign Minister Tonino Picula and Republika Srpska Prime Minister Milorad Dodik, confirming the right to the return of refugees. Asked to comment on changes in the leadership of the Croatian Radio and Television (HRT), Palmer said they had been noticing some improvements lately, but a lot of work was ahead to transform the television into a public medium. Palmer wished the new HRT director Mirko Galic a lot of luck in his efforts to create a public television. (hina) lml jn