ADLESIC: I DON'T KNOW HOW 'REPUBLIKA' GOT HOLD OF DOCUMENT ON PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT

ZAGREB, Dec 5 (Hina) - Djurdja Adlesic, president of the parliamentary Committee on Internal Affairs and National Security, said on Tuesday she did not know how the 'Republika' daily got hold of the document on a partnership agreement between media and political strongmen. Adlesic (of the Croatian Social Liberal Party, HSLS) told reporters that although she had not seen the document before its publication, she was familiar with its contents through "a highly positioned official." Monday's 'Republika' reported that the president of the Europa Press Holding management board, Ninoslav Pavic, a co-owner of the OTV television station, Vinko Grubisic, a media mogul already on trial for white-collar crimes, Miroslav Kutle, and politician Ivic Pasalic (of the Croatian Democratic Union), had signed a partnership agreement with the aim of completely taking over control of the Croatian media space. The Committee on Internal Affairs and National Security today discussed the segment of the budget which refers to the ministries of defence and internal affairs. A 10-percent reduction in budgetary funds for the two ministries will not jeopardise Croatia's national security, the Committee concluded. (hina) rml