ZAGREB, April 10 (Hina) - The Croatian Radio Television (HRT) Council on Monday relieved of duty Croatian Television (HTV) editor-in-chief Obrad Kosovac, supporting by majority a proposal by HRT director Mirko Galic, who made the
implementation of his programme concept conditional on Kosovac's replacement. The next step the HRT Council is expected to make is to invite applications for the position of HTV editor-in-chief. Until the new editor-in-chief is appointed, the position will be held by Neda Ritz, a former editor of HTV's culture service, whom the Council today appointed acting editor-in-chief. Of 23 members of the Council, 22 were present at today's session, including representatives of political parties. Before Kosovac was relieved of his duty, an exhausting debate, which lasted two and a half hours, took place. During the debate, members of the Council kept outsmarting each other in procedu
ZAGREB, April 10 (Hina) - The Croatian Radio Television (HRT)
Council on Monday relieved of duty Croatian Television (HTV)
editor-in-chief Obrad Kosovac, supporting by majority a proposal
by HRT director Mirko Galic, who made the implementation of his
programme concept conditional on Kosovac's replacement.
The next step the HRT Council is expected to make is to invite
applications for the position of HTV editor-in-chief. Until the new
editor-in-chief is appointed, the position will be held by Neda
Ritz, a former editor of HTV's culture service, whom the Council
today appointed acting editor-in-chief.
Of 23 members of the Council, 22 were present at today's session,
including representatives of political parties.
Before Kosovac was relieved of his duty, an exhausting debate,
which lasted two and a half hours, took place. During the debate,
members of the Council kept outsmarting each other in procedural
questions, which were used as a pretext for political disagreement.
Ljerka Mintas Hodak of the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) said
"the Kosovac case is a politically motivated replacement because
his professionalism was not even discussed."
Ivo Skrabalo, the Council's chairman, said Kosovac's continuing to
hold the position of HTV editor-in-chief would be "a major
political obstacle to implementing the programme for which Galic
won unanimous support at the last session." Skrabalo also recalled
that Kosovac's appointment had been a political decision.
The last person to address the Council before the vote was taken was
the new HRT director Mirko Galic. Galic said the concept of public
television required people who believed in public television,
whereas Kosovac had demonstrated on a number of occasions that he
did not believe in public television.
Galic announced the introduction of the criterion of
professionalism on television. "Nobody will lose their
professional or human dignity. We will keep on the HTV people of
different political options but their private political
preferences must not reflect on programmes," Galic said.
Commenting on the outcome of the session, Kosovac told reporters he
had expected that he would be replaced today. "I expected such a
decision because the government lobby wanted it that way and won the
majority. I could not go against all by myself," Kosovac said,
adding his replacement was "a political replacement". The new
authority wants to have its people everywhere, he said.
Kosovac said he would apply for the position of the new editor-in-
chief, adding his television was not "non-public, but democratic
and open."
Kosovac was appointed HTV editor-in-chief on May 17 1999 at the
proposal of a former HRT director Ivica Vrkic. Representatives of
the then opposition parties objected that Kosovac "inclined to
compromise and allowed outside influence on the editorial
policy."
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