PUNISHING HDZ IS SURPRISE AND INAPPROPRIATE - HRT

( Editorial: --> 8324 ) ZAGREB, Sept 5 (Hina) - Croatian Radio and Television (HRT) director, Ivica Vrkic, on Friday called the OSCE's decision to remove candidates of the Croatian Democratic Party of Bosnia- Herzegovina (HDZ BiH) from election lists as "tendentious, provocative and harmful to the general situation in Bosnia- Herzegovina". Vrkic said he would file a complaint to the High International Representative in Bosnia-Herzegovina, Carlos Westendorp, stating that this was a case of bias against the HDZ. He also expressed dissatisfaction with the assessments of the appellate electoral sub-committee (EASB) of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe on Croatia's internal political relations. The OSCE's EASB removed four HDZ candidates from canton election lists because of alleged biased reports to the Croatian Radio and Television. The commission claimed that the HRT had repeatedly violated media regulations on fair and equal approaches to political parties participating in this month's general elections in Bosnia- Herzegovina. The Election Appeals Sub-Commission (EASB) gave the HRT three days in which to change its way of covering the electoral campaign, and warned that, otherwise, it would remove candidates from lists. In a letter sent to the chairwoman of the Media Experts Centre (MEC), Tanya Domi, Vrkic said the EASB decision came as a surprise to the HRT, particularly as it contained a threat of further removal of candidates. Such acts "behind the HRT's back" are inappropriate and harmful, as well as based on false facts, Vrkic said. The HRT had fully fulfilled OSCE's requests regarding the coverage of the electoral campaign. The only problem that had occurred was a lack of sound in a limited number of locations during a show on Bosnia-Herzegovina elections on August 31, due to technical difficulties, he said. In addition, claims by the EASB judge that Croatian President Franjo Tudjman controlled all state institutions in Croatia and abroad, and used the HRT for the purposes of the Croatian democratic Union is petty politics and an inappropriate means of pressure and manipulation, Vrkic said. The Presidency of Bosnia-Herzegovina on Friday also assessed the OSCE's decision on removing candidates from lists as unjustified and a direct undemocratic attempt to impose election results. The Presidency also requested that the decision be reviewed. (hina) lml 051822 MET sep 98