US SECRETARY OF STATE MEETS REPRESENTATIVES OF CROATIAN MEDIA

( Editorial: --> 6918 ) ZAGREB, Aug 30 (Hina) - US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright on Sunday met with Croatian journalists considered by the United States to be representatives and advocates of independent media. Croatia's position and reputation in the world depend on the degree in which Croatia accepts the diversity of the peoples, cultures and beliefs which have existed here for a long time now, Albright told them. Emphasising that the US supports Croatia's inclusion into Europe, Albright said that could only happen if Croatia was an open and democratic society. We believe a lot more than free elections is necessary to build democracy. Also required are the rule of law and the acknowledgement of minority rights, as well as independent media in order for political leaders to behave responsibly, Albright said. She added the US would continue to support the activity of those who advocate independent media functioning. According to Damir Matkovic, a Croatian Television (HTV) reporter and member of Forum 21, a group of independent electronic media journalists, talks with the US State Secretary covered the situation in the Croatian media. He emphasised those who took part in the talks did not represent certain media, but had been invited individually. "Talks focused on the situation on HTV, i.e. in the electronic media. We from Forum 21 put forward our well-known standpoints that we expect changes on HTV to occur within a reasonable period of time, because we believe this is the fundamental precondition for a speedier democratisation of Croatian society", said Matkovic. The talks also touched on the problem journalists have in relation to the "very sensitive political authority which to every critical remark reacts with a court action", said Matkovic. He also said the Croatian participants in the talks agreed that all media-related problems could be resolved in Croatia, without outside pressure. The talks also discussed the problem in the distribution of the Croatian press and the efforts Croatian journalists have been making towards building a legal system congruent with European standards, said attorney Vesna Alaburic, who was recently given an award for advocating independent media by the US Bar Association. "We are glad that Mrs. Albright is aware of all the key problems of media freedom in Croatia, primarily the problem of HTV, which has to be transformed into a public television", Alaburic assessed. Present at today's talks were also Dubravko Merlic and Zeljka Ogresta from Forum 21, Drazen Vukov Colic and Gordana Grbic from the Novi List daily, Sanja Modric from the Jutarnji List daily, and Zrinka Vrabec-Mojzes from Radio 101. Representatives of Feral Tribune, a satirical weekly, were also invited but, according to the US Embassy, editors Heni Erceg and Viktor Ivancic could not attend due to annual leaves. (hina) ha 301459 MET aug 98