MEDIA HOLDING DISTANCES ITSELF FROM INTERVIEWS IN TWO BULGARIAN PAPERS

ZAGREB, May 4 (Hina) - The management of Media Holding AG - the co- owner of the Bulgarian papers "Noshten Trud" and "Dneven Trud", on Tuesday sent Hina a statement distancing itself from an interview conducted allegedly with Croatian President Franjo Tudjman and published by the two papers on April 26 and 27. The Zagreb-based daily "Vecernji list" today said the interview with the Croatian President had never happened and had been made up by the two papers. The Media Holding AG management also stated that the Croatian embassy in Sofia had sent a letter to the "Dneven Trud" editorial board, protesting against the alleged interview. According to the statement, signed on behalf of the Media Holding AG by its executive director Peter Sterzing, the WAZ group, which also includes Media Holding, is appalled at and distanced itself most resolutely from unprofessional journalism demonstrated in this case. The management also added the editorial boards of the two papers were investigating accusations about the violation of basic journalistic rules and would publish their results. Should the objections prove justified, the editorial boards will have to face the consequences and apologise to all affected parties, the management said. (hina) rml