HRT COUNCIL INVITES NEW APPLICATIONS FOR HTV EDITOR-IN-CHIEF POST

ZAGREB, April 6 (Hina) - The Croatian Radio and Television (HRT) Council on Tuesday decided to invite new applications for the position of the Croatian Television (HTV) editor-in-chief. The Council previously accepted the resignation of a recently appointed HTV editor-in-chief, Marija Peakic Mikuljan, with one abstention. The Council relieved Peakic Mikuljan of her duties as HTV editor-in-chief. HRT General Director Ivica Vrkic entrusted a former HTV editor-in- chief, Hloverka Novak Srzic, with taking over Peakic's duties until a new editor-in-chief is appointed. The HRT Council suggested the Managing and Supervisory Committees to see that the new HRT statute also envisage the participation of editors-in-chief in the management. The inability to participate in the work of the management was the main reason for Peakic's resignation. The Council today called on the "Opposition Six" parties to name their representatives to the Council because of the forthcoming pre-election period and the establishment of procedures to monitor the election campaign. The Council also discussed a report on HRT's business activities in 1998, establishing a loss of US$21.4 million, of which as much as US$15 million refer to obligations incurred by the Value Added Tax, the Council reported. (hina) jn rml