TV MOSLAVINA STILL NOT BROADCASTING

( Editorial: --> 6492 ) ZAGREB, May 25 (Hina) - Following a broadcast ban and a failure to reach agreement with the Ministry of Transport and Communications on the continuation of broadcasting, TV Moslavina failed to re- start transmitting programmes on Monday. On April 30 the Ministry of Transport and Communications issued a broadcast ban for the Kutina-based private television station, after a state inspector found out two days earlier that TV Moslavina was using telecommunication devices whose permits had expired on March 7 and that the station had in an unauthorised manner relocated its transmitter. On May 4 TV Moslavina requested that the permits be extended, claiming it had requested a permit for the relocation of the transmitter twice, in January and in February. However, asked by Hina whether the TV station had within a legal deadline requested the extension of its permits from March 7 onwards, TV Moslavina director Zvonimir Kabelka answered negatively. He explained this saying TV Moslavina "believed the request for the relocation of the transmitter implicitly included the extension of those permits". At a meeting with director Kabelka held on May 20 in the Ministry of Transport and Communications it was agreed that the TV station would return the transmitter to its old location and continue broadcasting its programmes as well as obtain permits. However the following day, the leading people from TV Moslavina refused to do this, explaining that it was technically complicated to return the transmitter to its previous location. Heads of TV Moslavina have interpreted the broadcast ban as a deliberate, politically motivated attempt to close down TV Moslavina. The ban was condemned by the Social Democratic Party (SDP) while the association "Reporters Sans Frontiers" and the European Union office in Zagreb also expressed concern. (hina) rm /mb 251958 MET may 98