CROATIAN TELEVISION ON COVERAGE OF BOSNIAN ELECTIONS

( Editorial: --> 6664 ) ZAGREB, Aug 28 (Hina) - The Croatian Television (HTV) will dedicate equal attention to all parties in Bosnia-Herzegovina until the end of pre-election silence. The scheme of their appearances on television has been determined by a public draw of the 26 registered parties participating in the general elections in Bosnia-Herzegovina in September, HTV news programmes director, Obrad Kosovac, told Hina on Friday. The Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) mission for Bosnia-Herzegovina on Friday described HTV's efforts to implement suggestions by the Media Experts Centre (MEC) as positive. The HTV will broadcast news reports on party rallies, according to the parties' choice. It will broadcast two one-minute reports in prime-time news and one report in the news review show "Motrista". Also, party programmes transmitted in Bosnia-Herzegovina will be broadcast from Monday, August 31 at 7pm, lasting three minutes. The OSCE assessed irregularities in HTV's coverage of the election campaign in Bosnia-Herzegovina through following of the programmes in segments and insufficient statistical sample, the HTV said. The HTV stated that from August 1 to 22, various parties were presented for 950 seconds, the Croatian Democratic Party of Bosnia- Herzegovina (HDZ BiH) for 825 seconds, and the New Croat Initiative for 654 seconds. This difference can be called insignificant for the period of 23 days, the HTV said. The OSCE mission has on several occasions stressed that Croatian media, particularly the HTV, are obliged to follow codes of conduct for media and reporters regarding the elections in Bosnia- Herzegovina, in line with the Dayton Agreement. (hina) lml 281937 MET aug 98