Kroslak Becomes New STVR Council Chair, Machala Vice-chair (2)

Bratislava, April 1 (TASR) - Jozef Kroslak has become the chairman of the newly created Slovak Television and Radio (STVR) Council after being elected to the post by council members on Tuesday, parliamentary culture and media committee head Roman Michelko (Slovak National Party/SNS) confirmed at a party news conference on the same day. "I'm pleased that all the council bodies were created at the first meeting, it's a significant milestone for STVR," stated Michelko. He confirmed that the council also elected its vice-chair - current general secretary of the Culture Ministry's service office Lukas Machala. The council also approved the wording of the call for candidates to apply for the STVR general director post. Michelko said that the candidates who enrol for the contest and meet all the formal requirements will present their projects at a hearing that will be open to the public. "I believe that my prediction that STVR could have a new general director for a full six-year term elected by mid-May is realistic," he said. Last week, MPs selected the remaining five members of the new STVR Council, whose creation was made necessary by a law passed last year. New House Chair Richard Rasi (Voice-SD) handed decrees to them on Tuesday. At the same time, he convened the first meeting of the council in line with the law on STVR. The House chair emphasised to the new council members the importance of the STVR supervisory body, as well as the mission of the public-service medium. "It isn't only an institution that should provide independent, impartial and pluralist information, but one that should also develop culture, support national awareness, identity and historical memory," stressed Rasi. According to the new law on STVR, the nine-member council has the power to elect the general director and will also be able to dismiss him or her if the legal provisions for this are met. The Culture Ministry reported that selection proceedings to find the new STVR general director will be held in following weeks, with an aim to find a competent manager. "The Culture Ministry welcomes these steps in the process of stabilisation and development of public broadcast and will support transparency and professional management of STVR," stated ministry press department head Petra Bacinska. ko/mf/df