ZAGREB, June 12 (Hina) - Members of the Sabor committee for the Constitution, book of rules and political system, on Monday voiced many objections to the Government's draft law on the Croatian Radio and Television (HRT). According to
them, some items of this draft act are even contrary to the Constitution. The committee accepted that a public debate on this law be conducted and the government, that proposed this text, was ordered to gather opinions of expert bodies (such as the Croatian Journalists' Society, unions, HRT relevant bodies) before it drafts a final bill on the matter. The draft act describes the television (HTV) as a public institution. It envisaged that the third channel be privatised. One of interesting provisions is that HRT Council members cannot be party or state officials. Some novelties are that the so-called programme councils be established as advisory bodies, said Cu
ZAGREB, June 12 (Hina) - Members of the Sabor committee for the
Constitution, book of rules and political system, on Monday voiced
many objections to the Government's draft law on the Croatian Radio
and Television (HRT).
According to them, some items of this draft act are even contrary to
the Constitution.
The committee accepted that a public debate on this law be conducted
and the government, that proposed this text, was ordered to gather
opinions of expert bodies (such as the Croatian Journalists'
Society, unions, HRT relevant bodies) before it drafts a final bill
on the matter.
The draft act describes the television (HTV) as a public
institution. It envisaged that the third channel be privatised. One
of interesting provisions is that HRT Council members cannot be
party or state officials.
Some novelties are that the so-called programme councils be
established as advisory bodies, said Culture Minister Antun Vujic,
who expounded the Government's draft act.
An expert aide to the committee, Professor Ivan Borkovic from Law
School in Split, said a contentious part was the provision that
party or state officials cannot be members of the HRT Council. He
advocated that the Sabor's lower house (House of Representatives)
assume the responsibility for the election of Council members.
Committee members - Mato Arlovic (of the Social Democratic Party or
SDP) and Dorica Nikolic (of the Croatian Social Liberal Party or
HSLS) - said it was necessary to adopt a law on separation of
functions in the HRT and establish the ownership prior to the
passage of the HRT law. Nikolic explained that it was necessary to
determine whether the HRT be divided into a public institution and a
company (covering relays and equipment for broadcasting).
This proposal and the Government's proposal "to discontinue the
practice of giving commentaries" from HRT information programme
raised a heated discussion.
Dorica Nikolic of the HSLS explicitly labelled such a proposal for
'the eviction of commentaries' as censorship, whereas Nenad Stazic
of the SDP said the serious commentaries often help the audience to
understand an event, particularly in foreign politics.
Vladimir Seks of the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) agreed with
him, adding that "the annulment of commentaries will impoverish the
concept of public television."
On behalf of the Government that proposed such a move, Vujic said
the provision on commentaries was clumsily composed and
misinterpreted. The intention of this suggestion, according to
him, is to take the commentary out of information when it dents a
piece of information, but there has been no proposal to annul
commentary as a form of broadcast.
(hina) ms