COMMITTEE FOR PUBLIC TELEVISION URGES PUBLIC DEBATE PRIOR ADOPTION OF 'HRT' LAW

ZAGREB, Dec 27 (Hina) - The newly-established committee for a public and integral Croatian Radio and Television (HRT) on Wednesday asked for the prolongation of the adoption of an act on the HRT "until all necessary analyses are conducted and until necessary preparation documents are drawn up and the stance and opinion of the public is seen on each segment of the draft law." The nine-member committee, consisting of representatives of all trade unions in the HRT, the Croatian Journalists' Society's branches and retirees and former employees with the HRT, forwarded the request to the Sabor's Houses of Representatives and Counties asking them that the final bill on the HRT be returned to a public discussion. The committee assessed that no through analysis had been carried out which would be necessary for decisions stipulated under the final bill. According to the committee, the public has not been informed about consequences of the legal changes which will influence programm contents, business activities and the technological development. It stressed that legal changes must make it possible for the HRT to distance itself from politics and free itself from dependence on those in power. The committee criticised the bill for failing to take into consideration trends achieved in Europe regarding public radio and television stations. It complained about plans to take from the HRT system one television and one radio net, as such measure would not enlarge the electronic media space in the country but would facilitate the transfer of national resources from the public into private sector. (hina) ms