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International Freedom of Expression eXchange Clearing House
________________________________________________________________
Date: 2 October 1996

CROATIA: Independent radio station refused long-term broadcasting
licence

ORIGINATOR: Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), New York

On 15 July 1996, the Croatian Telecommunications Council for the
second time failed to pass a decision on allotting the frequency
of 94.3 FM to the independent radio station Radio 101.
Furthermore, for its second application to obtain a long-term
broadcasting licence, Radio 101 was able to provide documentation
said to be missing in its first application submitted in January
1996. Meanwhile, the station has paid fees amounting to more than
US$ 35,000 for three temporary licences. The latest temporary
licence is due to expire on 15 November 1996. The two other radio
stations applying for the same frequency -- Radio Globus 101 and
Zagrebacki Krugoval -- so far exist only on paper.

Radio 101 has been operating on the 94.3 FM frequency since 1983
and has become a very popular, award-winning station.

RECOMMENDED ACTION:

Send appeals to authorities:
-expressing concern over the inability of Radio 101, which has
met all requirements and has a long-standing and vast listening
audience, to secure a long-term broadcast licence
-ensuring that, since the majority of the nine members on the
Telecommunications Council are also members of the ruling
Croatian Democratic Party (HDZ), and also that Radio 101 often
provides critical news about the HDZ party, that the
Telecommunications Council does not permit political matters to
interfere in its decision regarding Radio 101's application for a
long-term broadcast licence

APPEALS TO:

His Excellency Franjo Tudjman
President of the Republic of Croatia
Zagreb, Croatia
Fax: +385 1 443 075/444 532/456 5188

Mr Zeyno Luzavec
Minister of Maritime Affairs, Transport and Communication
Prisavlje 14
10000 Zagreb, Croatia
Fax: +385 1 611 0691

Minister of Internal Affairs
Mr Ivan Jarnjak
Ministar
Ministarstvo za unutraSnje poslove Republike Hrvatske
Savska cesta 39
10000 Zagreb, Croatia
Fax: +385 1 443 715

Please copy appeals to the originator if possible.

For further information, contact Catherine Fitzpatrick (x110) or
Amanda Onion (x101) at CPJ, 330 Seventh Ave, New York NY 10001,
U.S.A., tel:+1 212 465 1004, fax:+1 212 465 9568, e-mail:
europe@cpj.org, aonion@cpj.org

The information contained in this alert is the sole
responsibility of its originator.
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___________________________________________________
Bruce Girard
Pulsar - AMARC
Email: bgirard@pulsar.org.ec
http://www.web.net/amarc/pulsar.html
Tel: +593-2-525521    Fax: +593-2-542818
Av. America 3584, Casilla 17-08-8489, Quito, Ecuador