Considering the temporarily enhanced security measures, news conferences by members of the government and other government officials will be held inside the government building, the Croatian government said in a statement on Tuesday.

The news conferences will in future be held within the premises of the government building, in its court or its news conference hall, access by vehicles and persons to St. Mark’s Square will be restricted and there are police check points for those entering the square.

“By raising security for protected buildings – the government, the parliament and the Constitutional Court – we also want to raise security for tenants, citizens as well as reporters who cover the work of those institutions,” the government said.

The government also does not want the new security regime to affect in any way the possibility for media workers to report on the government’s activities or the availability of government members for media statements, the government said.

It noted that official media accreditations for reporters covering the government’s work will be made and updated, until which time the media coverage of government activities will be made possible for all reporters whose presence at individual events is announced in advance by their media outlets.

Government spokesman Marko Milic said media representatives will also be able to access St. Mark’s Square to cover public gatherings, on the condition of prior security checks.