PUBLISHER SAYS IT WILL RESPECT 'VECERNJI' EMPLOYEES' INTERESTS

ZAGREB, April 17 (Hina) - According to information given employees of "Vecernji List", Croatia's largest circulation daily, the paper's probable future owner, Austrian publishing house "Styria AG", will respect the employees' interests. "We have received information on re-selling of 'Vecernji List' this morning. We can only wait and see if the new owner's positive announcements in connection with the employees' statute will come to fruition," Jasmina Popovic, president of the Trade Union of Journalists of Croatia branch in "Vecernji List", told Hina on Monday. "The Austrian director has already been presented to the editors' board. It has been said he will work with director Branko Lovric in Zagreb. According to our information, the 'Styria' representative has pointed out 'Vecernji List' is only one of several companies owned by ('Styria'), and has announced he will respect the employees' status and that 'Styria' will invest in the development of 'Vecernji List' and its position on the market," said Popovic. The "Vecernji List" supervisory board today announced it approved of the Austrian publishing house's intention to purchase the daily. (hina) ha jn