It will be very hard for PCRM to return to power, U.S. Ambassador

It will be very hard for the Communist Party (PCRM) to return to power because progress has been made in Moldova during the last two years, especially in the areas of freedom of the press and freedom of expression, U.S. Ambassador Asif Chaudhry said in the last meeting of the Chisinau Press Club, when asked to state his opinion as regards a possible return of the PCRM and the related dangers, Info-Prim Neo reports. “Every time I meet with leaders of the Communist Party, I say that no matter where they are, in power or in the opposition, we want them to share democracy, liberty, freedom of the press, and individual human freedoms because these things can be supported by the United States. The freedom of the press and the freedom of expression aroused my concern. I think that progress has been made namely in these areas during the last two years and thus I think that it would be very hard to stage a return,” said the Ambassador. According to him, the public TV channel Moldova 1 is a relevant example. “If the news programs and other programs of the channel Moldova 1 were as before, it would be very bad. And if the Communist Party or any other party that is now in power or may be in power in the future tried to influence the mass media and tell them what to do, this would be a regression. If something is done to limit these freedoms, it will certainly be a negative process. The decision is to be taken by the administration of every party, including the PCRM. In their case, what would they do with these freedoms, if they returned to power? That’s why every time I tell them that their role, either in the opposition or in power, if they return, is to respect the people’s wishes and to guarantee the freedoms,” said Asif Chaudhry. He also spoke about the role played by the mass media in promoting the reform of the legal system and the law enforcement bodies. “I can mention several positive things that happened over the last two years. The U.S. Government supported a number of these positive activities. In general, what I noticed when talking to people in the street and friends is that they are now less afraid of the police than earlier. A plan for reforming the Ministry of the Interior and the entire system of law enforcement bodies was devised and made public. The positive thing is that now both the foreign partners and the people of this country can demand that these changes be implemented. The reforms can be successful only on condition that two elements of society join efforts to demand and ensure transparency and the implementation of reforms. These two components are the people and the mass media,” said the U.S. Ambassador to Moldova.