CROATIAN JOURNALISTS' ASSOCIATION WARNS OF GOVT'S PRESSURE

( Editorial: --> 3757 ) ZAGREB, March 31 (Hina) - The Croatian Journalists' Association (HND) said on Tuesday that following international public pressure on Croatian authorities, they in turn had stepped up their pressure on the press. The HND announced it would petition for the amendment of some provisions of the Criminal Law it finds contrary to the Constitution. "... Croatian journalists, especially in the media owned or influenced by the Government, are faced once again with political pressures that undermine professional standards," stresses a statement by the guild of Croatian journalists. The still inoperative suspended sentences of Davor Butkovic and Vlado Vurusic to four and two months in prison respectively, is "a negative consequence" of the Criminal Law, which has not been conformed to European legislation, says the HND. The Association also points out that the judiciary should be spared any kinds of pressure, but also that it would be unacceptable if journalists "were not allowed to voice any concerns about ineffective sentences". (Hina) jn mr /mb 312121 MET mar 98