MOST PROGRESS ACHIEVED IN PRINTED MEDIA -- OSCE

ZAGREB, May 3 (Hina) - Progress in the establishment and respect of democratic standards regarding freedom of the media in Croatia was until recently unified and essentially slow, but some steps have been made, particularly in printed media, a statement of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Mission in Croatia said Wednesday on the occasion of the international media freedom day. The OSCE Mission asserted progress had mostly been achieved in printed media in which a variety of stances and opinions are noticeable. The establishment of the Croatian Commercial network (CCN) which distributes a news programme to independent and regional televisions was applauded. The OSCE Mission and Council of Europe hailed the development of the private sector in electronic media, including the privatisation of the Croatian Television's Channel Three. The OSCE especially supported the moves of the new Government directed towards the transformation of the Croatian Radio and Television into a public medium. Regarding this issue, the Mission stressed the importance of consultations with the Council of Europe about amendments to the Law on the HRT and parts of the Law on Telecommunications. In conclusion, the OSCE commented on provisions of the Criminal Law pertaining to the freedom of expression, stressing that the existing law greatly restricted the freedom of public informing and the media. (hina) lml mm