FORUM 21 SAYS CRO RADIO & TV ACTS AS PARTY BRANCH OFFICE

( Editorial: --> 4776 ) ZAGREB, June 30 (Hina) - The resignation of Croatian Radio Television (HRT) director Ivica Mudrinic once again demonstrated that HRT in practice acts as a party branch office and not a public television which should serve all Croatian citizens, regardless of their party or ideological orientation, Forum 21 said in a statement on Tuesday. It is totally unacceptable that decisions concerning top people on public radio and television are reached by the presidency of a political party, Forum 21 said, adding this represents an evident violation of Croatian legislation. To deliberately take over the jurisdiction of the Croatian national Parliament and to strengthen one-party supervision over public television is a step backwards which furthers Croatia away from Europe, said the statement signed by Forum 21 president Damir Matkovic. Forum 21 is a group of electronic media reporters fighting for media independence. (hina) ha as 301849 MET jun 98