ZAGREB, 23 Sept (Hina) - The Croatian Parliament House of Counties on Monday supported with a majority vote a final bill on mass media. The bill was supported with 36 votes in favor, 10 against and three abstentions.
ZAGREB, 23 Sept (Hina) - The Croatian Parliament House of Counties
on Monday supported with a majority vote a final bill on mass
media. The bill was supported with 36 votes in favor, 10 against
and three abstentions. #L#
Certain changes in the bill, which is in the third reading,
are the result of parliamentary discussion and suggestions made by
Council of Europe experts who visited Croatia this July, Justice
Minister Miroslav Separovic said. The most important changes in the
bill are a clearer definition of the full freedom of information
and the introduction of respect for rights of other persons.
One of the more important changes is also a regulation which
says that a journalist, in case a body of state authority refuses
to provide information, can file a complaint with a special
council.
The Government did not accept a proposal according to which
editors-in-chief would not be responsible for the presentation of
newspaper texts. It also rejected a proposal on the annulment of a
regulation on the urgency of legal proceedings in case of damage
compensation.
Most criticism came from Opposition representatives and it
concerned regulations on damage liability insurance and regulations
according to which damage indemnity proceedings would be dealt with
in urgent procedure.
Justice Minister Separovic rejected Opposition complaints,
stressing that urgent procedure was in the interest of both the
injured party and the publisher.
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