HTV REFUSES TO BROADCAST PROMOTIONAL VIDEO OF HNS

ZAGREB, Dec 1 (Hina) - The refusal of the Croatian Television (HTV) to broadcast a promotional video of the Croatian People's Party (HNS) is an act of preventing a political party from being presented in public, said an HNS Vice-President, Vesna Pusic, at Wednesday's news conference. Pusic asserted the video was not a promotional clip for the election, but it is the promotional video of a party, adding that "prior to the start of the pre-election campaign everybody can advertise what they want." She said the HTV had notified the party yesterday that it did not want to broadcast paid TV commercials of the HNS, as the television would like to receive an opinion from the head of the State Election Commission, Marijan Ramuscak. Pusic said at the conference that the HNS President Radimir Cacic had held talks with Ramuscak on Tuesday and the head of the Commission told him that the Commission was not authorised to consider promotional videos of some political parties before the beginning of the election campaign. Another leader of the HNS, Stipe Mesic, maintained that just a little civic courage and professionalism on television are necessary in order that the HTV may become available to everyone. (hina) ms