CROATIAN GOVERNMENT ADOPTS MEDIA BILL

ZAGREB, June 20 (Hina) - The Croatian government on Thursday adopted a final bill on the media which, according to Prime Minister Zlatko Matesa, reflected a high degree of accord on the matter between the government and the Journalists' Association. Justice Minister Miroslav Separovic said that the bill was based on Council of Europe documents and fundamental principles of freedom of speech, a ban on censorship, and independence of the mass media. The bill says that a journalist is not required to reveal a source of information if the source wishes to remain anonymous. A publisher is required to appoint or dismiss the editor in chief with prior consent of a majority of journalists. The government also adopted a bill on the protection of secrecy of information which classifies confidential data as state, military, official, business and professional secrets. The government endorsed a report on the work of the Commission for Imprisoned and Missing Persons. The session was also attended by representatives of families of imprisoned and missing persons. Deputy Prime Minister Ivica Kostovic said that the fate of 2,686 people was still unknown. Since the beginning of Serbian aggression against Croatia, more thant 6,000 people had been released through 87 POW exchanges, he added. (hina) vm mm 201902 MET jun 96