Media NGOs warn situation of press in Moldova has worsened

The freedom of the press in Moldova more frequently becomes a reason for concern. Despite the optimistic statements made by the authorities, the situation of the press has not improved. On the contrary, it has worsened, media nongovernmental organizations warn in a memo launched on the occasion of the Press Freedom Days, Info-Prim Neo reports. At a joint news conference held by leaders of media NGOs, which opened the program of activities dedicated to the Press Freedom Days on May 6, the director of the Independent Journalism Center Corina Cepoi said that the last Freedom House report shows that Moldova ranks behind all the Western European states by the freedom of the press. This year, we lag behind Ukraine too. “Ukraine has a better rating and this makes us think that all these activities have a purpose and we should warn the public that the situation gets worse,” Corina Cepoi said. According to the executive director of the Independent Press Association Petru Macovei, the governors afford to not observe the freedom of the press, while the cases of abuses against the reporters grow in number. Macovei stressed the importance of taking part in the journalists’ solidarity march that will take place on May 8 and has a significant importance for the guild and for every citizen of Moldova that wants to live in a country with a free press. Valeriu Sahareanu, the president of the Journalists Union of Moldova, said that it is very important that the journalists make common cause because the governors aim to limit the capacities of the press to inform the society and they pursue a political aim – to control Moldova and, eventually, to exclude a succession of political forces in power. As regards the interferences in the activity of the press, Alexandru Dorogan, the president of the Association of Electronic Press (APEL) proposed drawing up a register that will include all the cases of abuse and limitation of access to information. Referring to the law on the freedom of the press, the participants in the conference said that it is an anachronistic document that must be withdrawn after passing a new law on the freedom of expression, which is now being drafted. The activities included in the program of the Press Freedom Days will last by the end of May. The online radio of the Faculty of Journalism and Communication Sciences of the State University of Moldova started a trial program on May 6, at 16.00. On May 7, APEL will hold a new conference at Info-Prim Neo News Agency starting at 12.00. The conference is themed “Results of the Monitoring of the Observance of the Broadcasting Code. Case Studies. Activity of the Broadcasting Coordination Council and Monitoring of the Editorial Policy of the News Programs of the National Public Broadcaster “Teleradio-Moldova” and of the Public Broadcaster “Teleradio-Gagauzia”. On the same day, the conference hall of the Government’s Cafeteria will host the conference “Evaluation of the Access to Official Information” held by Acces – Info Center, starting at 10.00. On May 7, the Independent Press Association will organize a workshop themed “Press as Business: legal gaps and solutions” in Cahul town. A journalists’ solidarity march meant to raise awareness among the general public of recurrent violations of the right to information, to freedom of expression, of economic, political and social pressure put by the authorities on the mass media will take place on May 8 starting 11:00. According to the organizers, the march will start from the Press House, will go past the Government building and stop at the Stefan cel Mare Public Garden, where a meeting will be held until 14:00. On May 8, the Press Club will hold a meeting titled “Freedom of Expression and Information in Moldova”. Representatives of the governmental circle are invited to the meeting. The organizers aim to find out officials’ opinions about the set of recommendations included in the memo of the media NGOs. Thematic public debates and seminars will be organized the next days. There will be presented reports. An international conference on the situation of the press in the countries of the Black Sea basin is scheduled for May 17-19. The Congress of the Journalist Unions of Moldova will be held on May 30. It will be preceded by a number of thematic conferences.