U.S. & EU REPRESENTATIVES ATTEND FORUM 21 MEETING

( Editorial: --> 1835 ) ZAGREB, Mar 24 (Hina) - Croatia will wait for entering the PHARE programme and expanded cooperation with the European Union as long as it fails to meet West European democratic standards in establishing and respecting the freedom of the media, European Commission special envoy Per Vinther said in Zagreb Monday. Vinther spoke at a meeting of Forum 21, an association of electronic media reporters, which was also attended by the United States Ambassador to Croatia, William Montgomery. Vinther said he had not noticed any progress in achieving freedom of the media. He pointed out the EU expected Croatian authorities and the Croatian government to take concrete steps aimed at establishing full freedom of the media. The appointment of Croatian Radio Television reporters to central political bodies of the ruling Croatian Democratic Union is contrary to EU wishes, Vinther said, adding this demonstrated Croatian policy was not transparent. Croatia with its policy is the one determining how soon it will access European integrations, he pointed out. The European Commission special envoy welcomed a Council for Telecommunications announcement of soliciting for tenders for a television concession on a state level. U.S. Ambassador Montgomery emphasised the United States and the EU are setting conditions which are common for all countries wishing to be democratic. Croatia is not a second class country, he said. (hina) ha jn 241255 MET mar 98