GOVT FORWARDS BILL ON TRANSFORMATION OF HRT INTO PARLIAMENT

ZAGREB, June 1 (Hina) - Croatia's government on Thursday forwarded into parliamentary procedure a bill on Croatian Radio-Television (HRT), which envisages its transformation into a public medium. According to the bill, public radio-television would broadcast programmes of general and public importance on two radio and two television channels, while a third radio and television channel would be offered for concession. HRT's current Transmitters and Communications unit would become a separate state-owned society with limited responsibility. Public programmes, controlled by the public, would be financed from subscriber fees and commercials, said Deputy Premier Zeljka Antunovic. She announced the HRT bill would simultaneously be forwarded into parliamentary and public debate. The public would exert its influence on HRT's programme through the HRT Council, while a manager and administrative council would manage HRT. The government suggested that the HRT Council include 15 members to be appointed by parliament's House of Representatives. The HRT Council would formulate programme directives, supervise their enforcement, and give consent to the financial and business plan, as well as to the amount of the subscriber fee. The council would also appoint and relieve of duty the manager, the members of the administrative council, and the editors-in-chief. The government suggested that the council appoint HRT's manager following a public bid, and that the editor-in-chief should not be a party or state official. (hina) ha jn