LOWER HOUSE ADOPTS AMENDMENTS TO LAW ON CRO TELEVISION

ZAGREB, Oct 23 (Hina) - With a majority vote the Croatian National Sabor's (Parliament) Lower House on Friday adopted amendments and supplements to the Law on Croatian Radio Television. However, while the vote regarding the proposed amendments was being taken, a majority of opposition MP's (Croatian Peasants' Party - HSS, Istrian Democratic Alliance - IDS, Croatian Social Liberal Party - HSLS, Liberal Party - LS, Social Democratic Party - SDP), left the Sabor. As Jozo Rados (HSLS) said following the walk out, opposition MP's were protesting against the "vile violation of the Sabor's book of rules". According to Rados, amendments which were only submitted today, that is, after the discussion on the law had already been conducted, were also included in the voting process. He announced that MP's would not return to vote on the matter but that they would participate in discussions regarding the agricultural sector. The new amendments to the law on Croatian television (HRT) gives HRT public authority to realise public interests. According to the amendments, the HRT Council would consist of 23 members of whom 10 would be members of parliament while the remaining members would be renown people from the fields of public life, cultural circles and science institutes. All members would be nominated and dismissed by the Sabor's Lower House. The Law gives the Council more authority giving it the power to nominate and dismiss chief editors on radio and television following recommendations by the director of HRT and based on public concessions. Chief editors will in future not however, be allowed to at the same time be party officials. Broadcasting will continue via three channels while a public concession will be advertised for the issuing of a licence of a fourth channel. (Hina) sp