CROATIA'S LOWER HOUSE DEBATES MEDIA BILL

ZAGREB, June 12 (Hina) - The Croatian Parliament's House of Representatives closed a session on Wednesday with a discussion on the Media Bill. Deputy Prime Minister Ljerka Mintas-Hodak said that the Bill guaranteed freedom of expression but that it also envisaged restrictions of that freedom in line with international documents. "Freedom means publishing accurate, complete and timely information, abiding by rules of professional journalism, protection of a citizen's privacy and respect for his dignity, reputation and honour," she said. Mintas-Hodak said that the privacy issue was sensitive and complex, particularly in the case of public figures whose right to protection of privacy would be limited. She added that failure to respect privacy could be prosecuted under the penal code or a civil lawsuit may be brought by the injured party. Social Democratic Party (SDP) deputy Marin Jurjevic proposed that the Bill also foresee the accountability of civil servants for refusal to provide information. Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) representatives Ante Beljo and Milivoj Kujundzic called for tougher penalties for slander and defamation. (hina) vm jn 122210 MET jun 96