HRT: CURIC DIDN'T REPRESENT ANYONE'S PRIVATE INTERESTS IN 'EROTEL' NEGOTIATIONS

ZAGREB, Dec 9 (Hina) - Responding to claims in some Croatian dailies, the Croatian Radio-Television (HRT) management on Thursday issued a statement saying its representative in negotiations about the Mostar-based TV station 'Erotel', Jozo Curic, had carried out decisions agreed on by 'Erotel' owners on a higher political level, and any private interests were out of the question. In line with the instructions of the HRT management, Curic refused to support the signing of a permit banning Croatian TV programmes in a large part of Bosnia-Herzegovina. The HRT could not accept the disputed permit because all 'Erotel' owners had accepted the view of the political leaderships in Zagreb and Mostar. The HRT has never officially received other alleged offers by the international community, said the statement. The HRT management expresses its gratitude to Curic for his dedicated four-year work and help in the efforts of Croats in Bosnia-Herzegovina to establish their own TV station, and regrets his sudden resignation. Our negotiator has resigned due to the huge media pressure, the HRT said, adding Curic has never received an official resignation request. (hina) rml