CONFERENCE ON FREEDOM OF MEDIA BEGINS IN ZAGREB

( Editorial: --> 8608 ) ZAGREB, Apr 22 (Hina) - A two-day seminar called "European Legislation Standards for the Freedom of the Media" began in Zagreb Wednesday. The seminar was organised by the Council of Europe, the Croatian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Croatian Journalists Association. In his introductory speech, Council of Europe representative Mario Oetheimer said the seminar will help in exchanging opinions, ideas and views. Croatia is on the threshold of a new era as concerns the development of human rights for which freedom of the media is a key condition, he said. Upon admission to the Council of Europe Croatia signed a list of obligations some of which are directly related to freedom of the media. According to Oetheimer the Council is most concerned at the transformation of state into public television which, he added, is a frequent problem in other countries in transition as well. Council media experts visited Croatia last month and drafted a list of 16 suggestions which the Croatian government should consider and which refer to the Law on Croatian Radio Television and the Law on Telecommunications. The development of freedom of the media is one of the principal conditions of democracy, Branko Socanec, head of the Foreign Ministry's Department for Human Rights, said in his introductory speech. But it takes time to get accustomed to freedoms and rights and learn to "avoid the trappings of their abuse", he pointed out. "On the other hand, one must know how to take an objective journalistic criticism", Socanec added. The seminar will also discuss issues of offence, slander and criticism of public figures, as well as secrets of state, the protection of information sources and access to official information. (hina) ha jn/mb 221509 MET apr 98