OSCE REPEATS WARNING TO CROATIAN RADIO TELEVISION

( Editorial: --> 8469 ) SARAJEVO, Sept 6 (Hina) - The Media Experts Commission (MEC) has warned Croatian Radio Television (HRT) of continuous violations of electoral rules and regulations pertaining to the media in its programmes transmitted in Bosnia-Herzegovina, despite previously reached agreements. The Election Appeals Sub-Commission (EASC), part of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) mission to Bosnia, on Friday decided to remove several candidates of the Croatian Democratic Union of Bosnia-Herzegovina (HDZ BiH) from electoral lists as a result of electoral regulation violations by the HRT. In a letter sent to HRT director Ivica Vrkic on Sunday, MEC chairwoman Tanya Domi said that an independent supervision of HRT programmes, conducted in the period from August 27 to September 3, established that the HRT covered the HDZ BiH four times more than the first subsequent party whose election campaign had been presented in both news and other programmes. Domi particularly pointed out reports on the dismissal of General Stanko Sopta, the former commander of the Bosnian Federation Army's First Guards Corp. The reports did not provide unbiased information to the public on the different views of various political parties and candidates. HRT director Ivica Vrkic was also warned that the Croatian broadcaster should present editorial comments in a considerate manner, avoiding constant repetitions of stances of only one candidate or party. Monitoring reports keep showing that the HRT's coverage of events are the most biased in relation to other popular electronic media in Bosnia-Herzegovina, Domi said. She suggested that the HRT should begin transmitting previously recorded campaign programmes of political parties that took part in a draw. The HRT had been requested to hold a draw to determine the sequence of appearances of parties and candidates on its programmes. Domi also requested that, considering the time the HRT provided to the HDZ after the EASC decision, the HRT should provide her time for a response during the prime-time news on Sunday. (hina) lml /mbr 061826 MET sep 98