HRT COMMENDED FOR IMPROVING ELECTION CAMPAIGN COVERAGE; CHANGES EXPECTED - OSCE

EXPECTED - OSCE ( Editorial: --> 6593 ) SARAJEVO, Aug 28 (Hina) - The Media Expert Commission of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) in Bosnia-Herzegovina has positively judged efforts of Croatian Radio and Television (HRT) in correcting some irregularities which were registered in its coverage of pre-election campaigning in Bosnia. At a session held in Banja Luka on Thursday, the MEC established that the HRT had carried out instructions on the presentation of parties which are to participate in the September elections, OSCE spokeswoman Nicole Szulc told reporters in Sarajevo on Friday. However, the HRT has been urged to broadcast party promotional video clips between 7pm and 10pm, instead in the afternoon. The MEC has also advised the HRT to start cooperating with the Independent Media Commission (IMC) so that the existing property questions concerning transmitters could be resolved together with the Radio-Television of Bosnia-Herzegovina. Media experts expect the HRT to continue improving the coverage of all registered political parties during the pre-election period. The Media Expert Commission has decided to suspend a decision it made earlier on sending the case for further consideration to the Election Appeals Sub-Commission (EASC). The OSCE will continue to monitor HRT programmes and if it establishes that the plan for broadcasting promotional video clips is not being followed, the EASC will be informed about it, without any warning, Szulc said. The MEC on Thursday urged Radio Herzeg-Bosnia to harmonise its programme within 48 hours and stop favouring the Croatian Democratic Union of Bosnia-Herzegovina (HDZ BiH) or the EASC, which has the power to remove candidates from election lists, will be called to decide. The EASC has already been informed about the case of radio "Sveti Jovan", which is headed by Sonja Karadzic, Radovan Karadzic's daughter, because of flagrant violations of election regulations and disregard for OSCE requests. (hina) rml 281450 MET aug 98